Figure 6.

CTX modulated cytokine-related transcription factors in synovial fibroblasts. The synovial fibroblasts were harvested from synovial tissues of AA rats at 16th day. Synovial fibroblasts were purified and authenticated with vimentin (+) and CD68 (−) for the tests (a). Purified synovial fibroblasts were restimulated in vitro with or without IL-1β and treated with CTX for 6 h. Cell supernatant collected for determination of IL-6 (b); the levels of IL-6 were enhanced when stimulated with IL-1β, whereas it dropped down when given CTX (0.25, 0.5 μg/mL) at the same time. Lysates from these cells were prepared, and the levels of p-STAT3 were analyzed with Western blotting (c). The levels of p-STAT3 were increased when stimulated with IL-1β; it dropped down when given CTX (0.25, 0.5 μg/mL) at the same time. ^* P < 0.05, compared with PBS group; ^# P < 0.05, compared with IL-1β group.