Fig. 2.

Differential responsiveness to Leflunomide among CIA rats. a The representative three-dimensional microCT images and clinical arthritic scores of the hind paws from PBE+ (n = 73) and PBE− (n = 77) CIA rats before (baseline, BL) and after Leflunomide treatment. Non-immunized (NI) rats (n = 20) were used as controls of the CIA rats. Scale bar, 5.0 mm. *P < 0.05 as determined by repeated-measures ANOVA with a post hoc test. b Relative levels of DHODH activity and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes in synovial fluid normalized to the corresponding baseline in PBE+ (n = 73) and PBE− (n = 77) CIA rats. *P < 0.05 as determined by one-way ANOVA with a post hoc test, NS: no significance. c The serum baseline CRP and TRAP5b levels in PBE− (n = 77) and PBE+ (n = 73) rats. CRP^L: relatively lower CRP level (CRP^Lower, 52.45 ± 7.54 mg L⁻¹). CRP^H: higher CRP level (CRP^Higher,91.24 ± 10.12 mg L⁻¹). *P < 0.05 as determined by two-sided t-test. d Relative changes of serum CRP (left) and TRAP5b (right) from the corresponding baseline in CRP^H rats (n = 73) and CRP^L (n = 77) rats. *P < 0.05 for day 14 or day 28 versus BL in CRP^L and CRP^H, #P < 0.05 for CRP^H versus CRP^L at day 14 and day 28, as determined by repeated-measures ANOVA with a post hoc test. e Bone resorption parameters including osteoclast surface per bone surface (Oc.S/BS) and osteoclast number per bone surface (Oc.N/BS) in CRP^H (n = 73) and CRP^L (n = 77) rats after normalization to the corresponding baseline. *P < 0.05 as determined by one-way ANOVA with a post-hoc test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file