Fig. 3

Increased expression of chemokine receptors by osteoclast progenitors and higher chemokine levels in plasma and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). a Flow cytometric analysis of chemokine receptors on osteoclast progenitors (CD3⁻CD19⁻CD56⁻CD11b⁺CD14⁺) in peripheral blood of control subjects (CTRL) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as in RA SF samples. Gates for the analysis were defined using unlabeled cells and "fluorescence minus one control". b Levels of chemokine ligands in peripheral blood of CTRL subjects and patients with RA, as well as in RA SF samples, measured by a flow cytometry-based, predesigned cytometric bead array. c Levels of CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) in peripheral blood of CTRL subjects and patients with RA, as well as in RA SF, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Values are presented as medians (middle lines), with boxes representing IQR, whiskers representing 1.5 times the IQR, and squares or circles representing outliers. Group-to-group comparisons were performed using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test, and p values <0.05 are shown. CCR CC chemokine receptor, CXCR CXC chemokine receptor, CCL CC chemokine ligand