Ankylosing Spondylitis / Spondyloarthritis

Ankylosing Spondylitis (SpA) is a bone pathology that belongs to a superfamily  of spondyloarthritides. SpA involves both axial and peripheral arthritis-like pathology  characterized by inflammation and structural damage accompanied by new bone formation that may gradually lead to joint ankylosis. In AS the primary site of inflammation is located at the enthesis or subchondral bone marrow with bone marrow oedema, infiltration of inflammatory cells and increased osteoclast density.

Biomedcode has recently added in its collection of unique animal models of human disease the TgA86 mouse model spontaneously developing ankylosing spondylitis due to the overexpression of mouse transmembrane TNF.

Mice can be treated either early -at disease onset- or late –at established pathology. Disease progress and severity are assessed regularly using validated in vivo scoring scales for peripheral and axial pathology.

Representative graphs of the progression of the in vivo arthritic score (left panel) and the tail pathology  score (right panel) in TgA86 animals. Treatment with etanercept ameliorates the disease symptoms.