Body weight changes, arthritis scores, ankle pathology, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17 (IL-17) secretion, as well as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in joint tissue, were measured as indicators of viability of DHE medicated AIA rats. Here, TNF is linked to arthritic joint disease.