Fig. 1.

Absence of DR3 protects against collagen-induced arthritis.

CIA was induced in male DR3^wt and DR3^ko mice bred onto a DBA/1 background. a) Arthritis severity was determined by level of paw swelling. DR3^wt CIA mice had significantly worse arthritis severity (p < 0.05) compared to the DR3^wt baseline control. No significant difference was observed between the DR3^ko CIA and DR3^ko baseline controls. b) Summary data of pathology by an arthritis index determined by scoring for erosion, cellular infiltrates, exudate and hyperplasia. Arthritis index was significantly lower in DR3^ko CIA compared to DR3^wt CIA mice (p < 0.01); n = 5–15 mice per group. c) Representative micrographs of joints from DR3^wt and DR3^ko mice following CIA induction: e = erosion; p = pannus formation; sh = synovial hyperplasia; si = synovial infiltration; l = loss of joint space. Scale bar = 0.1 mm. Statistical analysis performed with unpaired students t-test.