Fig. 2: Mast cells are involved in D3R deficiency-induced excessive inflammation in the CIA model. | Cell Death & Disease

Fig. 2: Mast cells are involved in D3R deficiency-induced excessive inflammation in the CIA model.

From: Dopamine D3 receptor signaling alleviates mouse rheumatoid arthritis by promoting Toll-like receptor 4 degradation in mast cells

Fig. 2: Mast cells are involved in D3R deficiency-induced excessive inflammation in the CIA model.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

A qPCR was used to examine the mRNA levels of tnfa, il1b, and il6 in mouse knee joints after CIA induction (n = 6). B Serum cytokines were analyzed by ELISA in mice (n = 8). C FcεR1 and c-kit, markers of mast cells, were checked by western blotting in the knee joints of CIA mice (n = 4). D Toluidine blue staining was used to analyze mast cell numbers in mouse joints after CIA induction. Mast cell numbers were counted per visual field. E Ankle width was measured after treatment of CIA mice with the mast cell inhibitor ketotifen on Day 39. F After ketotifen treatment, the ratio of arthritic paws was observed on Days 33, 36, and 39. The ratio of arthritic paws was defined as the occurrence of inflamed paws with a clinical arthritis score of 2 or more (n = 20). G and H The mast cell inhibitor ketotifen (26.3 mg/kg/d) was used to abolish mast cell function, and then cytokines at both the mRNA and protein levels were tested by qPCR and western blotting (n = 4). All data are representative of the means ± SEM. Student’s t-test was used for (D), and one-way ANOVA (Tukey’s post hoc) was used for other panels; *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001. Scale bar = 30 μm.

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