FIG. 9.

C3a levels are higher in synovial fluid from humans suffering from RRV-induced polyarthritis than in synovial fluid from humans with noninflammatory osteoarthritis. Synovial fluid samples from five individuals diagnosed with acute RRV-induced polyarthritis and three individuals with osteoarthritis were assessed for C3a levels using a Human C3a EIA kit (BD Biosciences). The data are presented as mean C3a levels (in ng/ml) in synovial fluid. The differences in C3a levels in RRV versus osteoarthritis samples were statistically significant (P < 0.05) as determined by the Mann-Whitney U test.