NLRP3 Inflammasome Plays an Important Role in the Pathogenesis of Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Figure 4

Synovial tissue NLRP3 expression and correlation analysis. (a) Normal mice. (A) No soft tissue swelling; (B) X-rays imaging showed no bone destruction and no joint space narrowing; (C, D) no significant synovial hyperplasia. (b) CIA mice. (A) Paw imaging showed significant articular soft tissue swelling; (B) X-rays showed the bone destruction and joint space narrowing at the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joint surface and visible metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation; (C) NLRP3 immunohistochemical staining showed significant NLRP3 expression at synovial proliferation areas and subchondral vasculitis areas; (D) square area showed increased NLRP3 expression in the synovial vascular endothelial cells that invaded the cartilage. (c) NLRP3 histology score and joint imaging score were positively correlated. (d) NLRP3 histology score and arthritis clinical score were positively correlated. Magnification (×200).

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