ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: L02

Persistent Articular Infection and Host Reactive Responses Contribute to Brucella-Induced Spondyloarthritis in SKG Mice

Jerome Harms1, Jens Eickhoff1, Thomas Warner1 and Judith Smith2, 1University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 2University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Meeting: ACR Convergence 2024

Date of first publication: October 24, 2024

Keywords: Arthritis, Infectious, Late-Breaking 2024, Mouse Models, Other, spondyloarthritis

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Session Information

Date: Monday, November 18, 2024

Title: (L01–L14) Late-Breaking Posters

Session Type: Poster Session C

Session Time: 10:30AM-12:30PM

Background/Purpose: Brucellosis, one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases worldwide, often results in osteoarticular complications including large joint and axial arthritis mimicking spondyloarthritis (SpA). Greater understanding of Brucella SpA may reveal common mechanisms with rheumatologic SpA and yield insight into how host-pathogen interactions drive SpA. As previous Brucella mouse models were problematic, we developed a new one using SpA susceptible SKG mice. In this study, in addition to initial characterization of the model, we sought to determine if Brucella SpA reflected persistent infection or a reactive process.

Methods: SKG mice of both sexes were infected with various species of Brucella varying in human virulence and monitored for weight loss, arthritis (score and changes in paw widths), eye inflammation and rash for 12 weeks. New bone formation was detected by micro-CT. Viable infection was assessed by colony forming units (CFU) in paws and spleen and in vivo imaging (IVIS) of luminescent Brucella.

Results: B. melitensis infection resulted in fully penetrant, readily scoreable disease involving large joint wrist and foot arthritis, peri-ocular inflammation, occasional scaly paw rash, and florid new bone formation (Figure 1). B. abortus elicited more variable disease, and B. neotomae revealed sex differences, with more penetrant and severe disease in females. Heat-killed Brucella did not induce arthritis, evincing a requirement for viable infection. Also, the prevalence and severity of B. neotomae disease exhibited a dose response. Splenic CFU correlated well with final clinical score at 12 weeks (rs=0.79 and p< 0.001, Figure 2). On the other hand, in vivo imaging using luminescent B. neotomae revealed rapid colonization of the paws by one week post-infection, more than a month prior to arthritis onset. Luminescence levels decreased after 2 weeks and then remained relatively static, even as clinical scores increased (Figure 3). Thus, the degree of arthritis did not strictly correlate with degree of paw infection but suggested an additional reactive component. Further, in examining a Brucella ΔTcpB mutant lacking a Type IV secretion system-dependent effector, mice displayed an intermediate arthritis phenotype without significant differences in splenic CFU.

Conclusion: Together these data suggest Brucella induced SpA reflects both persistent colonization as well as excess host reactivity. Moreover, the sensitivity of the SKG model to different bacterial species and mutants will provide new opportunities for dissecting the correlates of Brucella virulence and the host immunity that drive the development of SpA.

Supporting image 1

Figure 1. Clinical disease induced by B. melitensis infection

Supporting image 2

Figure 2. Requirement for live infection and correlation with splenic CFU

Supporting image 3

Figure 3. In vivo imaging


Disclosures: J. Harms: None; J. Eickhoff: None; T. Warner: None; J. Smith: None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Harms J, Eickhoff J, Warner T, Smith J. Persistent Articular Infection and Host Reactive Responses Contribute to Brucella-Induced Spondyloarthritis in SKG Mice [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024; 76 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/persistent-articular-infection-and-host-reactive-responses-contribute-to-brucella-induced-spondyloarthritis-in-skg-mice/. Accessed .
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

« Back to ACR Convergence 2024

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/persistent-articular-infection-and-host-reactive-responses-contribute-to-brucella-induced-spondyloarthritis-in-skg-mice/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology