Fig. 5

The absence of eEF2K exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. On day 0 and day 15, both WT and eEF2K KO mice received injections of an emulsion containing complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) and bovine type II collagen. Tibiotarsal joint size and arthritis scores were assessed every 2-3 days by two independent investigators, who conducted the evaluations without knowledge of the experimental groups. Once the arthritis score criteria were met, the mice afflicted with CIA were euthanized for further analysis. a Tibiotarsal joint size of WT and eEF2K KO mice with/without CIA were measured (n = 5 mice in each group). b The quantification of arthritis score (n = 5) mice in each group. c H&E staining of knee joint isolated from WT and eEF2K KO mice with CIA. Arrows showed (1) cartilage damage, (2) chondrocyte hypertrophy, (3) infiltration of inflammatory cells, and (4) synovial lining hyperplasia in the eEF2K KO mice with CIA. Scale bar, 100 μm. d Representative images of Safranin-O-stained knee joint sections from WT and eEF2K KO mice with CIA. The purple area represents the cartilage. Arrow pointed at the loss of cartilage. Scale bar, 100 μm. e Joint destruction from Safranin-O-stained knee joint sections was quantified based on d in each group. f Representative results of the surface and intracellular FACS analysis of CD4, CD8, and IL-17A in WT and eEF2K KO T cells from the spleens of the mice with CIA. Summary data were presented as mean ± SD, derived from 3 independent experiments. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.005; ****P < 0.001, unpaired t-test