Treatment of
septic arthritis has become more challenging due to the rise of multidrug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in recent years. Failure of
antibiotic therapies has compelled to initiate the search for new alternatives. This study aimed to unveil the potential anti-arthritic effects of
TAPI-1 (TNF-α processing inhibitor-1), an inhibitor that inhibits TACE (TNF-α converting
enzyme) mediated release of soluble TNF-α and its receptors along with attenuation of other inflammatory and joint destructive factors responsible for the progression of
arthritis. Male Swiss albino mice were inoculated with live S. aureus (5 × 106 cells/mouse) for the development of
septic arthritis.
TAPI-1 was administered intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg
body weight) post S. aureus
infection at regular intervals. Throughout the experiment, the severity of
arthritis was obtained to be significantly low after
TAPI-1 administration.
Arthritis index and histopathology confirmed effectiveness of
TAPI-1 in mitigating
inflammation induced paw swelling and less bone-cartilage destruction in the arthritic knee joints. Lower levels of soluble
tumor necrosis factor alpha (sTNF-α) and soluble
tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor-1 (sTNFR-1) were detected in the
TAPI-1 treated group suggesting
TAPI-1 mediated blocking of TACE with subsequent inhibition of TNF-α signalling. Treatment with
TAPI-1 lowered the levels of reactive species;
matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2),
receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and
osteopontin (OPN) denoting less matrix degradation and less osteoclastic
bone resorption. Together, this experimental work authenticates
TAPI-1 as an alternative therapeutic intervention for the treatment of S. aureus
arthritis.