Treatment with an antibody for LRS-EQY protects mice from inflammatory arthritis.

<p>A. Kinetic analysis of gene expression of MMP-3 or MMP-7. Total RNA extracted from ankle joint synovial tissues of individual mice with arthritis was subjected to quantitative real-time PCR. Expression levels are normalized to G3PDH (n = 4 per group). *<i>P</i><0.05 versus normal, one-way ANOVA followed by Student's t test with Bonferroni's correction. Data are presented as means ±SEM from three independent experiments. B. Western blot analysis of OPN or OPN treated with MMP-3 or MMP-7 using anti-LRS-EQY Ab. C. Arthritis scores of arthritic mice treated with control Ig (rabbit IgG) or an anti-LRS-EQY antibody at the indicated time points (<i>arrow heads</i>) (n = 8 per group). *<i>P</i><0.05, ^**<i>P</i><0.005 versus control Ig, Student's t test. Data are presented as means ±SEM from three independent experiments. D. Representative images of gross appearances of the forepaw and hindpaw on day 8 are shown. E, F. Representative histology of normal joints and arthritic joints on day 14 from mice treated with control Ig (normal rabbit IgG) or an anti-LRS-EQY antibody. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or Safranin-O. F. Boxed areas in left panels are magnified in right panels. <i>Arrowheads</i> or <i>arrows</i> indicate pannus formation or bone erosion, respectively. *<i>P</i><0.05, ^**<i>P</i><0.005 versus control Ig, Student's t test. Data are presented as means ±SEM from three independent experiments.