The TNF-α inhibitor regulates the expression of inflammatory factors via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. (A) Expression and phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT in synovial fibroblasts from rats with osteoarthritis and healthy rats were determined by western blotting. (B) Expression and phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT in the synovial fibroblasts from rats with osteoarthritis following treatment with TNF-α inhibitor or vehicle. (C) Effects of the PI3KIR on levels of the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-17a and IL-8 expression in synovial fibroblasts following treatment with TNF-α. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01. ns, not significant; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; PI3KR, PI3K inhibitor; PI3K/AKT, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B; IL, interleukin; p-, phosphorylated.