Abstract: AIM: To investigate the combined therapeutic effects of recombinant human interleukin-10 (rhIL-10) with soluble chicken collagen type Ⅱ (SCC Ⅱ) on rat adjuvant arthritis(AA).METHODS: The paw swelling, gain in body weight, thymus-and spleen-indices, the lymphocyte proliferative responses induced by ConA and the levels of IL-1 in the peritoneal macrophages (PMΦ) and synovial membrane tissue cells (SMCs) in rats were examined. RESULTS: Compared with SCC Ⅱ (0.03 mg·kg^-1 ·d^-1, ig) or rhIL-10 (1, 2 μg·d^-1, sc) treatment alone, combined treatment of rhIL-10 (1,2 μg·d^-1, sc) with SCC Ⅱ (0.03 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, ig) significantly improved the above indices, shortened the induced phase of rat oral tolerance (OT) to SCC Ⅱ, and strengthened the treatment effect.CONCLUSION: rhIL-10 can improve the therapeutic effect of SCC Ⅱon rat AA.

Key words: soluble chiken collagen type II, recombinant human interleukin-10, combined treatment, adjuvant arthritis, lymphocyte proliferative responses, synovial membrane tissue cells, peritoneal macrophage, interleukin-1