Figure 1.

Tubule formation in coculture of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synovial cells and human vascular endothelial cells.³⁵ Human vascular endothelial cells and rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synovial cells were cocultured for 21 days alone (control), with IL-6 + soluble IL-6 receptor), with IL-6 + soluble IL-6 receptor + tocilizumab, or with IL-6 + soluble IL-6 receptor + anti-VEGF antibody. The medium (with cytokine and antibody) was replaced every two days. After culture, the formed tubules were detected by anti-CD31 antibody.

Notes: *P < 0.05 by unpaired t-test (versus control); ^†P < 0.05 by Dunnett’s multiple comparison test (versus IL-6 + soluble IL-6 receptor).

Abbreviations: Ab, antibody; IL, interleukin; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; sIL-6R, soluble interleukin-6 receptor.