Fig. 3.

The expression of TNF-α and Cox-2 transcripts was reduced in joints of metallothionein-injected mice. On day 34, joints of booster injected left hindpaws (+) and uninjected right hindpaws (–) were separately removed and dissected free of soft tissue. Total RNAs were extracted from joints pooled 4–5 mice per group and expression levels of (a) TNF-α and (b) Cox-2 transcripts were determined by RT-PCR. PCR products of Cox-2 were further analysed by Southern blot hybridization with the Cox-2 internal probe. The data were reproducible in two independent experiments.