Type XI and II Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Rats: Characterization of Inbred Strains of Rats for Arthritis-Susceptibility and Immune-Responsiveness to Type XI and II Collagen

To determine the relationship between susceptibility to bovine type XI and II (BXI and BII) collagen-induced arthritis, we immunized 14 inbred and one outbred strains of rats with BXI and BII. Susceptibility to BXI-arthritis corresponded largely with susceptibility, or resistance, to BH-arthritis. LEW, BB, WF, DA, and WKY were readily susceptible to BXI-and BH-arthritis. Likewise, BII-resistant F344 and BN rats were BXI-resistant. Some strains responded differently to BXI and BII. BUF and COP, which are moderately susceptible to BII, were BXI-resistant, whereas the BII-resistant rats, DA. IN and WF. IN, were partially susceptible to BXI. (F344 ± BN) F1 hybrids responded to both collagens suggesting gene complementation. Arthritis occurred in all strains producing the highest titer antisera (LEW, WF and BB). Antibody responses to BXI and BII were generally commensurate within individual strains. DA were susceptible to arthritis but produced low levels of antibody comparable to BN rats which were arthiritis...