Fig. 1

SLC7A5 expression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes of RA patients. a Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of the synovial tissue from RA and OA patients. Black arrows represent the lining cells of synovial tissues, the blue arrows represent the inflamed cells in synovial tissues. b The mRNA expression of SLC7A5 in synovial tissue from OA and RA patients, detected by RT-qPCR (RA n = 15, OA n = 14). Correlation analysis of SLC7A5 mRNA expression in FLS from RA patients (n = 15) with RF (c) and CRP (d). e The protein expression of SLC7A5 in synovial tissues from OA and RA patients detected by Western blotting. The density of SLC7A5 immune-reactive bands was analyzed by using ACTB expression as a loading control (RA n = 22, OA n = 22). f Representative immunofluorescence staining for SLC7A5 (green) and vimentin (red) in synovial tissue from OA and RA patients (RA n = 3, OA n = 3). The slide used for IF stain was consecutively followed slide stained with H&E. The picture shown in f was the enlarging arrow area pointed out in a. The yellow boxes were amplified in g, yellow arrow pointed out the representative staining cells (*p < 0.05)