Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.

2 Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.

Abstract

Currently available disease modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs have limitations like dose-dependent toxicity and tolerance.
Dimethyl fumarate has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in various animal models. Thus, the
present study aimed to evaluate the effects and mechanism of DMF in a murine model of adjuvant-induced arthritis.
A total of 84 rats were divided into early treatment groups (n=48) and late treatment groups (n=36). There were 8 subgroups
and 6 subgroups (n=6 in each group) in the early and late treatment groups, respectively. Experimental rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) was induced in Wistar rats by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) intradermally at the base of the tail. Antirheumatic effects were evaluated by arthritis and histopathological scoring of ankle joints. To evaluate anti-oxidant properties,
GSH, catalase, SOD, and lipid peroxidation were measured. ESR, WBC count, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were measured to evaluate
the immunomodulatory properties of DMF. DMF demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing arthritis and
histopathological scores compared to the CFA control group, though the difference was not statistically significant. DMF
exhibited immunomodulatory properties as decreases in TLC count, serum TNF-α, and plasma IL-6 levels were observed. In all
the above-mentioned parameters, the best response was achieved with the early combination therapy of DMF 30 mg/kg and
methotrexate [Mtx] 0.1 mg/kg. In the present study, DMF demonstrated antirheumatoid effects in a rat model of CFA-induced
arthritis. The best antirheumatoid effect was achieved with the early combination of DMF and Mtx.

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