Methotrexate Combined with 4-Hydroperoxycyclophosphamide Downregulates Multidrug-Resistance P-Glycoprotein Expression Induced by Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes via the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

Figure 2

Effects of methotrexate (MTX) and/or 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) on JAK2/STAT3 mRNA-production (a) and p-STAT3 protein content (b) of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synovial cells (RA-FLSs). Compared with the cell control group, the MTX ± 4-HC group showed higher levels of JAK2/STAT3 mRNA-production and p-STAT3 protein content; the differences were statistically significant (); compared with the MTX group, the MTX + 4-HC group showed lower levels of JAK2/STAT3 mRNA-production and p-STAT3 protein content; the differences were statistically significant (); after adding pathway inhibitors, JAK2/STAT3 mRNA-production and p-STAT3 protein content were lower than those of the MTX ± 4-HC group; the differences were statistically significant ().

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