Figure 3

Monocyte/macrophage fraction of PBMCs exhibit increased miRNA expression compared with lymphocyte fraction. PBMCs were collected from RA patients and separated into monocyte/macrophage and lymphocyte populations by allowing the monocytes/macrophages to adhere to a tissue culture dish. (a) miRNA expression was examined using qRT-PCR. SEM is shown (n = 2 patients). (b) Average expression levels of miR-146a, miR-155, miR-132, and miR-16 are shown for monocyte and lymphocyte populations for two RA patients. *P < 0.02, as determined by Mann-Whitney test. SEM is shown. PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time RT-PCR; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RT-PCR, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; SEM, standard error of the mean.