Figure 5.
Type II collagen-primed T74-DCs attenuate CIA progression. DBA/1J mice were injected subcutaneously with 100 μL type II collagen (CII) emulsion. Mice were immunized boost dose with the same amount of collagen on Day 21 after the primary immunization. Established CIA mice were vaccinated with 2 × 105 CII-primed T74-DCs, NT-DCs, or PBS twice on Days 21 and 29. (a) Schematic diagram of the animal experiment. (b) Arthritis incidence was observed by clinical scoring and footpad thickness from Day 21 until the end of experiment. Severity was scored on a scale of 0–4 for each paw. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM (wild type: 6 mice, other groups: 10 mice). (c) Paws of mice from each group were randomly selected and photographed. Images show the front (top) and side (middle) of the front paws and the hind paws (bottom). (d) Paws removed from half mice in each group were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, decalcified for 3 weeks in HCl solution, and then embedded in paraffin. 5 μm thick serial sections were stained with H&E. Data are representative of the staining per each group (wild type: n = 3, other groups: n = 5). Bone and cartilage erosion are marked with black arrows and red arrowheads, respectively. P: pannus, I: inflammatory exudate. *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001.