Figure 5

Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) expression analysis of selected rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related chondrocyte genes in response to antirheumatic treatment. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed the expression profiles of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor-4 (CXCR-4), thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), and steroid sulfatase (STS) following treatment with methotrexate (disease-modifying antirheumatic drug [DMARD]), diclofenac (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID]), and prednisolone (steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [SAID]). Expression of COX-2 and CXCR-4 was induced in RASFsn-stimulated chondrocytes and repressed again following antirheumatic treatment. Expression of TXNIP and STS was repressed in RASFsn-stimulated chondrocytes and induced again following antirheumatic treatment. Expression of selected genes was calculated as the percentage of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression. The mean of each triplicate well is plotted, and the error bars represent the standard deviation. RASFsn, supernatant of untreated rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast.