Figure 5.

I.a. administration of NF-κB decoys inhibit the recurrence of SCW arthritis. (A) Distribution of fluorescein-labeled ODNs in the synovium. Ankle joints of rats with established SCW arthritis were injected with liposomal complexes of fluorescein-labeled NF-κB decoys. One day later, synovial explants were isolated, sectioned, counterstained with propidium iodide, and analyzed under a fluorescent microscope equipped with a fluorescein filter set. Note the bright-yellow fluorescent nuclei and red fluorescence of cytoplasmic RNA. Original magnification, ×200. (B and C) Therapeutic protocol. (B) Schedule of injections. Rats were injected into both ankle joints with PG-APS. Four weeks later, at Day 0, animals were divided into three groups and monoarticularly injected with liposomal complexes of NF-κB decoys (10 μg ODNs/joint). In the experimental group, animals were injected with wt-κB decoys, and two control groups received mut κB-PT decoys and saline. The contralateral ankle joints were injected with saline. At Day 1, reactivation of arthritis was induced by i.v. injection of PG-APS. (C) The severity of recurrent SCW arthritis in treated rats. The average mean values of joint swelling were calculated in each group as d_n = <D_n − D₁>, where D_n and D₁ are joint diameters at day n and day 1, respectively. After reactivation, the maximal joint swelling in all groups was registered at day 4. ODNs, liposome-treated joints; CL, contralateral joints; N, number of joints per group. The significance of difference with the control, saline-treated group was calculated by using unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test. (Bars = SEM.) Results of a single experiment are shown. The therapeutic effect of wt NF-κB decoys was reproduced in an identical experiment.