Fig. 1

Effects of artesunate on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and cytokine production of primary RA-FLS. RA-FLS were treated with different concentrations of artesunate, MTX (10 nM), or HCQ (20 μM) for 24 h. a EdU assays were performed to evaluate the proliferation of RA-FLS. Representative images showed proliferation of RA-FLS labeled with EdU (green) and nuclei stained with DAPI (blue, original magnification, × 100). b Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry with PI staining. c Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. d Bars were representative as effects of artesunate (60 μM), MTX (10 nM), or HCQ (20 μM) on proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of primary RA-FLS measured by EdU, PI, and annexin V-FITC/PI assays, respectively. e The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in culture supernatant of primary RA-FLS with or without 100 pg/mL TNF-α stimulation were measured by ELISA. Data were representative as means ± SD from 6 RA patients. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with RA-FLS without TNF-α or artesunate treatment. ^△P < 0.05, ^△△P < 0.01, compared with RA-FLS treated with TNF-α alone