Fig. 7

The therapeutic value of RPS17-overexpressed monocytic OCPs in AS-like lesions. a Representative images of RANK-RPS17 coimmunostaining in the ankles of SKG modeling mice injected with PBS, control CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes or RPS17-overexpressed cells in ankle-joint cavity (n = 5/group). Scale bar: 50 or 25 µm. b Comparison of ankle-swelling degree between groups (n = 5/group). c Quantitative comparison of RANK or RPS17 fluorescence expression in bones adjacent to articular surface between groups (n = 5/group). d Mice from each group were evaluated with clinical scores once a week, and the overall trend was compared between groups (n = 5/group). e Micro-CT showing the formation of osteophytes (red arrows) in the ankle joints and joint-degeneration degree across each group (n = 5/group). Scale bar: 2 mm. f H&E or SO-FG staining showing ankle-joint destruction and ossification across each group (n = 5/group). Scale bar: 200 μm. g TRAP staining showing osteoclastogenic levels for new bones adjacent to articular surface (n = 5/group). Scale bar: 200 or 100 μm. h TRAP staining showed osteoclastogenic levels in the trabecular bones across each group, and quantitative evaluation relied on counting the number of osteoclasts per mm of bone surface (BS) (n = 5/group). Scale bar: 100 or 25 μm. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.000 1 and ns (not significant) by one-way ANOVA