Fig. 1

Tau protein level is increased in inflammation conditions. A qRT-PCR analysis of Tau mRNA level in Raw264.7 cells treated with PBS or TNF-α (30 ng/mL) for 24 h. B Western blot analysis of tau protein in Raw264.7 cells treated with PBS or TNF-α (30 ng/mL) for 48 h. C Densitometry analysis of Western blot results shown in (B). D Representative images of immunohistochemistry staining of tau in the synovium of ankle joints from WT mice with or without CIA at 7 weeks after immunization. Scale bar: 100 µm. E Quantification of tau positive cells in the synovium of ankle joints. n = 6 mice for each group. F Representative images of immunohistochemistry staining of tau in the synovium of knee joints from sham or DMM operated WT mice at 12 weeks after surgery. Scale bar: 50 µm. G Quantification of tau positive cells in the synovium of knee joints. n = 4 mice for each group. **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001. CIA, collagen-induced arthritis; OA, osteoarthritis; DMM, destabilization of the medial meniscus