Main description:

This volume provides a summary of the standard laboratory protocols and methodology commonly used in basic and translational studies in the field of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Chapters detail including basic RA models, evaluation of disease activity and immunological status, systemic drug delivery, and new research tools. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and cutting-edge, Rheumatoid Arthritis: Methods and Protocols aims to be a basic manual for clinical researchers who are just getting started in the field of intervention study.

Contents:

Part I: Animal Models

1. Collagen-induced Arthritis Models

Miyoshi Maya and Shuang Liu

2. Human Xenograft Model

Shuang Liu

3. Long-term Constant Subcutaneous Drug Administration

Shuang Liu and Maya Miyoshi

4. Clinical Scoring of Disease Activity in Animal Models

Maya Miyoshi and Shuang Liu

5. Histological Analysis of Arthritic Joints

Takeshi Kiyoi

6. Preparation of Joint Extracts

Shuang Liu and Erika Takemasa

Part II: Therapeutic Approach

7. Production of Immunizing Antigen Proteoliposome Using Cell-free Protein Synthesis System

Wei Zhou and Hiroyuki Takeda

8. Re-construction of Protein/Liposome Complex

Yasuyuki Suzuki

9. Production of Neutralizing Antibody

Erika Takemasa, Shuang Liu, and Hitoshi Hasegawa

10. Autoantibody Profiling Using Human Autoantigen Protein Array and AlphaScreen

Hiroyuki Takeda

11. Generation of Specific Aptamers

Shuang Liu, Yasuyuki Suzuki, and Makoto Inui

12. Production of Lentiviral Particles

Shuang Liu

13. RNA Interference Ex Vivo

Shuang Liu

14. Lentiviral-mediated Systemic RNA Interference in vivo

Shuang Liu

15. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Engineering

Shuang Liu

Part III: Evaluation of Immunological Status

16. Screening of Ca2+ Influx in Lymphocytes

Erika Takemasa and Shuang Liu

17. Single-cell Ca2+ Imaging

Shuang Liu

18. Electrophysiological Methods to Measure Ca2+ Current

Shuang Liu and Miyuki Kuno

19. The Functional Assessment of T cells

Saho Maruyama

20. Release of Antibodies and Cytokines from B cells

Shuang Liu

21. Evaluation of Autoreactive Responses

Shaung Liu

22. Bone-resorption Activity in Mature Osteoclasts

Takeshi Kyoi

23. Animal Models of Vasculitis

Mogi M and Shuang Liu

Part IV: Clinical Approach

24. Design an Intervention Study

Hitoshi Hasegawa

25. Assessment of Disease Activity, Structural Damage, and Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hitoshi Hasegawa