Fig. 6: Administration of SEMA3E ameliorated synovial inflammation and cartilage damage in CIA rats.

A Significant ligand-receptor pairs mediating signals between FLS clusters (resting lining and resting sublining) and STM clusters (Trem2+ macro, Cebpb+ macro and Clec10a+ macro). The dot color and size representing the calculated communication probability and p-value. p-value are computed from one-sided permutation test. B Dot plots showing gene expression levels and percentages for significant ligand-receptor pairs in each synovial cluster. C GO biological processes of genes in the significant ligand-receptor pairs shown in (A). D Experimental scheme for saline or SEMA3E treatment in CIA rat (n = 3). E Representative images from n = 3 biologically independent rat hind paws and knees after SEMA3E treatment for 4 weeks. Arrows indicated obvious cartilage damage and synovial hyperplasia in CIA rats treated with saline. Scale bar = 2 mm. F Representative histological images of cartilage treated with SEMA3E or saline per group. Joints were stained with H&E, safranin O, and toluidine blue, Scale bar = 200 μm. G Histological scores based on analysis of synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, bone destruction, and cartilage destruction. (n = 3 per group, **p < 0.01). All error bars denote Mean ± s.e.m.; dots indicate individual samples.