Figure 1

RT-PCR analyses of CD147, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, from osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and in undifferentiated and differentiated THP-1 cells. Cells were collected and the total RNA isolated by electrophoresis and transferred to a nylon membrane. The membrane was hybridized with CD147-specific, MMP-2-specific and MMP-9-specific cDNAs, and then visualized by autoradiography. (a) and (b) Expression of CD147, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA in RA FLS (lanes 1, 3 and 2) was higher than that in OA FLS (lanes 4, 6 and 5). (a) and (c) Expression of CD147, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA in RA FLS after co-culture with undifferentiated THP-1 cells (lanes 7, 9 and 8) was higher than that in RA FLS (lanes 1, 3 and 2). (a) and (d) Expression of CD147 mRNA of differentiated THP-1 cells (dTHP-1, lane 11) was higher than that of undifferentiated THP-1 cells (uTHP-1, lane 10). Glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as the inner parameter. Values (ratio of density = experiment/GAPDH) are the means ± standard error (n = 4–6). *P < 0.05 (experimental groups versus control groups).