Suppression of type II collagen-induced arthritis by the intravenous administration of type II collagen or its constituent peptide α₁, (II) CB₁₀

Intravenous administration of Type II collagen to rats prior to immunization with Type II collagen suppresses hind paw inflammation, humoral response to Type II collagen, and the severity of the arthritic lesion. Suppression of inflammation and its severity as well as the humoral response can also be induced by the prior intravenous administration of α₁ (II) CB₁₀ a cyanogen bromide peptide derived from Type II collagen. Suppression of arthritis is disease specific; intravenous administration of either Type II collagen or α₁ (II) CB₁₀ does not have an effect on adjuvant-induced arthritis. These studies indicate that structural determinants of α₁ (II) CB₁₀ (M_r, 30,000), a peptide located near the carboxy terminus of the collagen molecule, can induce suppression and suggest that these determinants may be responsible for the suppression of arthritis when Type II collagen is administered intravenously.