Fig. 3
a HE/ Immunohistochemistry staining of joints of control mice (a, b, e, f) compared with CAIA mice (c, d, g, h). Control mice have no obvious hyperplasia of the synovial tissue and synovial tissue probably made up of 3 to 4 layers of synovial cells, low level expression of RHAMM (arrows in b and f); CAIA mice, had synovial hyperplasia and articular cartilage surface roughness, local inflammatory cell infiltration, part of synovial cells infiltrating the cartilage and bone tissue, high level expression of RHAMM (arrows in d and h). b No significant differences in the staining of lungs between control (a, b, e, f) and CAIA mice (c, d, g, h). c Immunohistochemistry staining of kidneys, control mice (a, b) compared to CAIA mice (c, d), no significant difference of RNAMM expression. d RT-PCR results of RHAMM expression in lung, kidney and joint sections. RHAMM was expressed in CAIA mice joints at higher levels. e Quantitative analyses of western-blot of joint proteins from CAIA and control mice. RHAMM was expressed higher in CAIA mice joints than control mice. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, Mann–Whitney U test.