Fig. 2

The in-vivo experimental protocol, the clinical score, and the inflammatory indices. a Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced by primary (day 0) and secondary (day 21) immunizations with bovine type II collagen in CFA. Infusion pumps were implanted subcutaneously in mice with CIA on day 28. b Arthritis scores (clinical severity of arthritis). The maximum possible score is 16, as described in Materials and methods. Shown are the results of vehicle-treated mice with CIA (closed squares), mice with CIA treated with 9 mg/kg/day OP3-4 peptide (closed triangles), mice with CIA treated with 18 mg/kg/day OP3-4 peptide (closed circles), and vehicle-treated nonimmunized mice (open diamond). Values are mean ± SD (n = 6 mice per group). c Serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 levels on day 49. d The spleen weight was measured on day 49. Normal-vehicle group, nonimmunized mice receiving vehicle (20 % DMSO); CIA-vehicle group, immunized mice receiving vehicle (20 % DMSO); CIA-9 mg OP3-4 group, immunized mice receiving 9 mg/kg/day OP3-4 peptide; CIA-18 mg OP3-4 group, immunized mice receiving 18 mg/kg/day OP3-4 peptide