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Fig. 4 | Arthritis Research & Therapy

Fig. 4

From: Upper zone of growth plate and cartilage matrix associated protein protects cartilage during inflammatory arthritis

Fig. 4

Arthritis-triggered cartilage is aggravated in Ucma-deficient mice but ameliorated after systemic treatment with recombinant Ucma. A–E Arthritis-triggered cartilage damage in WT and Ucma-deficient mice. Representative images of metatarsal joints on safranin-O stained hind paw sections. (c′, c″, d′, d″) Higher magnification inserts of (c) and (d), respectively. Arrowheads indicate eroded cartilage surface. B Quantification of eroded cartilage surface. C Proteoglycan loss in articular cartilage determined by quantification of safranin-O staining-negative articular cartilage (SafO-neg. Cart.). D Chondrocytes and their pericellular matrix stained positive for NITEGE neoepitope (NITEGE pos. cells). E Immunohistochemistry for ADAMTS-specific aggrecan cleavage products (NITEGE neoepitope). Means ± SEM shown; n = 7 or 8 per group. F–I Cartilage degeneration in mice with SIA treated with recombinant Ucma. F Representative images of safranin-O stained hind paw sections. (b′, b″, c′, c″) Higher magnification inserts of (b) and (c), respectively. Arrowheads indicate eroded cartilage surface. G Immunodetection of Ucma protein and immunoglobulin G (IgG, loading control) in serum by dot blot. H Cartilage erosion in metatarsal joints quantified on safranin-O stained sections of the hind paws. I proteoglycan loss by assessment of percentage of SafO-neg. Cart. Means ± SEM shown; n = 3 or 5 per group. A, E, F Composite images of 4–6 individual micrographs, respectively. ErCtrl./KO healthy control Ucma-deficient, Ctrl./WT healthy control WT, Cart. Surf. eroded cartilage surface, IgG immunoglobulin G, KO knock-out, NITEGE ADAMTS-specific aggrecan neoepitope, PBS phosphate-buffered saline, SIA serum-induced arthritis, SIA/KO Ucma-deficient with SIA, SIA/WT WT with SIA, Ucma Upper zone of growth plate and cartilage matrix-associated protein, Ucma−/− Ucma-deficient, WT wild type

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