The Immunomodulatory Effect of Trichophyton Rubrum Exoantigens in the Treatment of Experimental Septic Arthritis

Abstract

Background:Understanding the nature and function of fungal exoantigens might lead to novel approaches in the treatment and prophylaxis of some infectious diseases. Septic arthritis represents a serious problem for medicine due to the high incidence rate and severe complications.Objective:The present study aimed at assessing the immunomodulatory effects ofTrichophyton rubrumculture filtrate as a novel compound in experimental septic arthritis.Method:The septic arthritis was haematogenously induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by a single intravenous injection of 109colony forming units of the human clinical isolateStaphylococcus aureusproducing toxic shock syndrome toxin-1.Trichophyton rubrumculture filtrate at two different doses 20 and 40 mg/kg was administered intraperituneally two days after bacterial inoculation in the treatment groups and concurrently with the appearance of clinical signs in the patient groups. The administration ofTrichophyton rubrumsolution was continued every other day for 10 injections.Results:The clinical evaluation showed thatTrichophyton rubrum-treated rats were significantly protected from disease development compared with untreated controls. This finding was correlated with results of radiological evaluation of the involved joints. Although, the inflammatory cell infiltration, cartilage/bone destruction and synovial hypertrophy had been decreased in the treatment groups in comparison with arthritic controls however, the histological changes were not significant in these two groups.Conclusion:It is possible thatTrichophyton rubrumantigens may play a role in modulating the immune responses and would be efficient in septic arthritis treatment.