Fig. 2

CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes are the main osteoclast precursors in RA. Purified CD14⁺CD16⁺ and CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes from RA (n = 5) and HC (n = 5) were cultured with rhM-CSF (30 ng/ml) and rhRANKL (50 ng/ml) for osteoclast differentiation. The cells were detected for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining on day 17, and the TRAP-positive multinuclear cells were osteoclasts. The representative charts and the statistical results were shown. a CD14⁺CD16⁺ versus CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes in HC (*P = 0.026). b RA versus HC for CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes (*P = 0.019). c RA versus HC for CD14⁺CD16⁺ monocytes. *P < 0.05; ns, not significant (Student’s t test, a−c)