Figure 3

Preventing autoimmune arthritis by CD40 siRNA. DBA mice (seven mice per group) were injected with 50 μg of CD40 siRNA or control siRNA using the hydrodynamic injection method. Two days after siRNA treatment, mice were immunized with 200 μg CII antigen, two times on Day 0 and Day 21, respectively. Treatment of CD 40 siRNA was repeated on Day 7 after first CII immunization. Disease severity was scored from the day of last immunization to five weeks a). The swelling of joints of CIA mice was determined by the thickness of each hind paw measured with caliper b). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Results represent one of three experiments. * = P < 0.05 versus control siRNA.