Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor influences periarticular joint inflammation in <i>B. burgdorferi</i>-infected mice.

ABSTRACT: Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne infection in the United States. Arthritis is a major clinical manifestation of infection, and synovial tissue damage has been attributed to the excessive pro-inflammatory responses. The secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) promotes tissue repair and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. The role of SLPI in the development of Lyme arthritis in C57BL/6 mice, which can be infected with B. burgdorferi, but only develop mild joint inflammation, was therefore examined. SLPI-deficient C57BL/6 mice challenged with B. burgdorferi had a higher infection load in the tibiotarsal joints and marked periarticular swelling, compared to infected wild type control mice. The ankle joint tissues of

SUBMITTER: Yu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11623497 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature