Fig. 1.

SMA-12b protects against CIA in an IL-17-independent manner. Development of CIA by (A) Mean Arthritis Score (PBS, n = 15; 12b, n = 13; data pooled from 2 independent experiments) and (B) hind paw width (PBS, n = 7; 12b, n = 6; data from single experiment), where results are expressed as mean scores ± SEM for PBS or 12b-treatment groups of collagen-exposed mice. Incidence (C), indicated by % of mice developing a severity score ≥2 is shown (PBS, n = 15; 12b, n = 13). (D) Following development of arthritis (d0), mice were treated every 3 days with PBS or 12b (both n = 6) and score for each mouse normalised to that at day 0. Peritoneal cavity cells were counted (E) (PBS, n = 11; 12b, n = 12; naive, n = 6) and frequency of F4/80⁺ cells determined by FACS (F) (PBS, n = 13; 12b; n = 12, naive, n = 5). Peritoneal fluid was concentrated and IL-12p40 measured by ELISA (G) (PBS, n = 14; 12b, n = 10; naive, n = 7). For E-G, each value represents data from individual mice with data pooled from two independent experiments. (H) IL-12p40 spontaneously released by DLN cells from mice undergoing CIA and treated as indicated are shown where data are presented as the mean values of individual mice from one experiment (naïve, n = 3; PBS, n = 7; 12b, n = 6). (I) Total numbers of DLN cells of individual mice from the naïve (n = 3), PBS-treated (n = 14) and 12b-treated (n = 13) groups are shown. (J) The number of IFNγ-expressing DLN cells and (K), IL-17-expressing DLN cells following stimulation with PMA/ionomycin from individual mice is shown (naïve, n = 3; PBS, n = 12; 12b, n = 12). (L) Serum IL-17 levels are plotted as mean values of triplicate IL-17 analyses from individual mice (PBS, n = 14; 12b, n = 13). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001.