Selective Sexual Dimorphisms in Musculoskeletal and Cardiopulmonary Pathologic Manifestations and Mortality Incidence in the Tumor Necrosis Factor–Transgenic Mouse Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

These findings indicate that TNF selectively drives the early onset of arthritis and progression of pathologic changes in the cardiopulmonary system in female Tg3647 mice. These results in the Tg3647 mouse identify it as a suitable model to better understand the mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism and cardiopulmonary disease in the setting of inflammatory arthritis and other connective tissue diseases.