Studies on early events of Borrelia burgdorferi-induced cytokine production in immunodeficient SCID mice by using a tissue chamber model for acute inflammation.

TL;DRAbstract

Lyme arthritis, one of the common features of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in the human, is associated with the production of various monocyte derived cytokines. To investigate the expression and regulation of cytokines during the acute phase of spirochete induced inflammation, a perforated Teflon chamber was implanted under the dorsal skin of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and immunocompetent co-isogenic C.B-17 mice. The histology of the surrounding chamber tissue exhibited sterile inflammation with several features reminiscent of an inflamed synovium, i.e. infiltration of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells, fibroblast-like cells and neovascularization. The experimental inoculation of Borrelia burgdorferi into the chamber resulted in the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-6 into the chamber exudate, in both the immunodeficient, disease susceptible SCID and the immunocompetent, disease resistant C.B-17 mice. Peak levels of TNF-alpha were reached at 2 hours and of IL-1

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