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Figure 1

From: ERAP1 deficient mice have reduced Type 1 regulatory T cells and develop skeletal and intestinal features of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Figure 1

µCT analysis of the axial skeleton. The spines from ERAP1−/− and WT mice were harvested and analyzed with µCT. (a) Scoring system with representative images from ERAP1−/− mice. (b) Representative isosurface images, demonstrating spinal ankylosis of the L6 to S1 vertebra in ERAP1−/− mice. Red arrows indicate the L6 vertebra. White arrows indicate remnants of the transverse process of L6. 14-weeks-old WT (n = 10) and ERAP1−/− (n = 16) male and female mice were assessed for ankylosis bilaterally. Scores were averaged, and Mean Ankylosis Scores were plotted on bar graph (c). (d) Representative isosurface images of the trabecular bone of S1 vertebra. (e) Graph depicting bone mineral density (BMD) of the trabecular bone of S1 vertebra of 14-week-old female mice (n = 5). (f) AS index was calculated by combining the fusion and an assigned BMD score, as described in methods, and graphed as a function of time. (g) Fusion scores of 14-weeks-old ERAP1−/− mice graphed as function of sex. Values on graphs are the mean ± SEM. p values calculated by student’s t-test, where ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001 and NS- not significant.

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