Strain dependence in murine models of monoarthritis

Objective and design: This study explores the inflammatory response in various murine strains. Utilising several approaches, monoarthritis was induced in the knee, providing an inflammatory model relevant to arthritis. Methods: Acute (carrageenan/kaolin; C/K) or chronic inflammatory models (Freund's complete adjuvant; FCA) or antigen-induced arthritis (AIA), were induced by peri- and/or intra-articular injection. Results: C/K elicited an acute inflammatory response in various strains of mice, with significant (P < 0.005) phenotypic variation. FCA induction provided a chronic inflammatory response. The magnitude of the response in both acute and chronic models was strain dependent, with BalbC exhibiting the most resistance to swelling in all models. AIA produced only an acute response in three strains tested. Conclusions: The data presented, demonstrating variation in the magnitude of acute and chronic inflammatory responses in different mice strains, allows informed selection of appropriate strains and models for future experimental studies.