Background Alcohol intake is inversely related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease incidence and severity. Resveratrol, a safe, well-described plant-derived compound, possesses anti-inflammation and immune-regulatory properties and is present in red wine. As such, it could mediate anti-inflammatory properties of the latter and offer novel therapeutic utility in is own right.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of resveratrol on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and its putative immune modulation in mice.

Methods CIA was induced in DBA1 mice by immunisation with collagen II. Different doses of resveratrol were administered before or after the development of CIA. The levels of antibody and cytokines in serum or in draining lymph node (DLN) lymphocyte culture supernatants were measured by ELISA and Th17 cell development in DLN was monitored by flow cytometry.

Results Either prophylactic or therapeutic administration of resveratrol attenuated clinical parameters and bone erosion in CIA mice. The arthritis-protective effects were associated with markedly reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and collagen-specific, but not total, IgG, and with reduced numbers of Th17 cells and the production of IL-17 in DLN.

Conclusion Resveratrol modulates inflammatory arthritis in rodents by selectively suppressing key cellular and humoral responses necessary for disease development. This may partly explain the protective effects of red wine but importantly may offer a novel, effective and safe pathway whereby novel agents could be developed to treat RA.