The present study revealed that increased mRNA expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and CXCL-1 (IL-8) occurred as early as at the preclinical phase of AIA and reached its maximum at the onset of arthritis (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IL-8) without any changes at the acute inflammatory phase. Here, CXCL8 is linked to arthritic joint disease.