Fig. 2
Effects of IL13Rα1 on cell viability and apoptosis of RA FLSs. a Following transfection with siIL13Rα1 or its negative control (siCtrl), cell viability of RA FLSs (n = 3) was measured by MTS post stimulation with Tg (100 nM), Tm (5 μg/mL), or CoCl2 (10 μM) for 12 h. b RA FLSs (n = 3) harboring the lentiviral-Myc-tagged IL13Rα1 (Lv-IL13Rα1) or its control (Lv-Ctrl) was subjected to MTS for cell viability analysis. c, d After treatment as indicated in a and b, the apoptotic rate of RA FLSs (n = 3) was assessed by Annexin V staining. e Whole lysates of RA FLSs (n = 3) were subjected for Western blot by anti-Bax, anti-Bcl, and anti-ChoP antibodies (left). Band intensities are quantified and the Bax/Bcl ratio is summarized into bar charts (right). f RA FLSs (n = 3) harboring Lv-IL13Rα1 or Lv-Ctrl were stimulated with IL-13, cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V staining. g Whole lysates from RA FLSs (n = 3) harboring Lv-IL13Rα1 or Lv-Ctrl were subjected for western blot by anti-Bax, anti-Bcl, and anti-ChoP antibodies (left). Band intensities are quantified and the Bax/Bcl ratio is summarized into bar charts (right). h Silencing efficiency of siIL13Rα1 was confirmed by Western blot. The two siRNAs were combined at equal concentrations for the subsequent experiments. IL13Rα1 in RA FLSs was also detected by Western blot following transfection with Lv-IL13Rα1 or Lv-Ctrl. Data are representative of three independent experiments from three different RA samples (n = 3) with similar results. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs the mean ± SD of siCtrl or Lv-Ctrl in the presence or absence of ER stress inducer (Tg, Tm, and CoCl2) or IL-13