Berberine Modulates LPA Function to Inhibit the Proliferation and Inflammation of FLS-RA via p38/ERK MAPK Pathway Mediated by LPA₁

Figure 1

The levels of plasma LPA and synovial LPA₁ in RA patients are evidently higher than those in controls. (a) The plasma LPA levels measured by ELISA in RA (n = 28) are dramatically higher than those in healthy controls (n = 25), but there is no statistical difference between RA and RA-SF (n = 10). (b) The plasma LPA level (n = 23) shows positive correlation with the platelet level. (c) Visible synovial thickening is observed in RA patients compared with OA patients (n = 4) in the light of H&E staining (×100). (d) The IHC staining acquired from the knee joints of RA and OA patients is shown (×100), LPA₁ is expressed in the synovial tissues of both RA and OA patients, and higher levels are observed in RA cases (n = 4). . LPA, lysophosphatidic acid; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; HC, healthy control; RA-SF, synovial fluid of RA; OA, osteoarthritis; and PLT, platelet.

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