Figure 4. The histopathological changes and the inflammatory-related cytokine expression in CIA mice.
(A) Representative histopathological characteristics of CIA mouse joint. HE staining of joints of CIA mice showed inflammatory cell infiltration (black arrow). TRAP staining showed the activation of osteoclasts (black arrow) of mouse joints.
(B) Histopathologic indices of synovitis in the knee joints were determined using semiquantitative scoring systems (0-5 for the extent of infiltration by inflammatory cells into the synovium).
(C) The plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17A in CIA mice measured by ELISA on the 44th day after the first immunization.
(D) The number of TRAP-positive cells of CIA mouse joints.
Data were expressed as the mean ± SEM (n=6). * p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 compared with the control group by Student’s t test.