Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Decrease the Expression of RANKL in Collagen-Induced Arthritis Rats via Reducing the Levels of IL-22

Figure 2

The expression of IL-22 and RANKL in serum by ELISA. The serum concentrations of IL-22 (a) and RANKL (b) in the three groups by ELISA. Normal controls (), CIA controls (), and CIA-MSC group (). When the rats were immunized with type II collagen, the expression of IL-22 and RANKL increased significantly (IL-22: , ; RANKL: , ). The highest levels of serum IL-22 and RANKL were found in CIA rats. In addition, using the MSCs to treat the CIA rats obviously reduced the levels of IL-22 and RANKL in serum (IL-22: , ; RANKL: , ). IL-22: interleukin-22; RANKL: receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand. Significant between-group difference (). Significant between-group difference (). Significant between-group difference ().

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