Antibodies to collagen in experimental antigen induced arthritis of the rabbit.

Fifteen rabbits with antigen (bovine serum albumin) induced arthritis had antibodies to collagens type I, II and III detected weekly by passive hemagglutination. Antitype I collagen antibodies were detected in 80% of the animals in the 3rd week of arthritis; antitypes II and III were found less frequently. No anticollagen antibody was detected after the 6th week of arthritis. Although the appearance of these antibodies was clearly related to the induction of arthritis, results indicate that humoral immunity to collagen is unable to initiate or contribute to the perpetuation of synovitis in this experimental model. Antibodies to collagen are probably an epiphenomenon of articular damage in the antigen induced arthritis of the rabbit.