TIME COURSE OF CYTOKINE LEVELS IN EXPERIMENTAL POSTTRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS

Abstract

An experimental model of post-traumatic arthritis of knee was developed in a series of 105 white non-inbred rats. Time-dependent changes of some cytokines were studied upon combined treatment with oral nimesulide and intra-articular etoxydole injections. It was found that the knee joint injury we observed increased levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which may reflect a development of local immunological response. Combined application of nimesulide and etoxydole contributed to significant reduction in all cytokine pools at the end of observation, bringing their levels to normal ranges typical to the intact animals.

Keywords

• post-traumatic arthritis
• cytokines
• nimesulidе
• etoxydol