ErMiao San Inhibits Angiogenesis in Rheumatoid Arthritis by Suppressing JAK/STAT Signaling Pathways

Figure 2

EMS decreases the vessel density in synovial membrane of inflamed joints in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. (a) Hematoxylin and eosin staining photomicrographs of synovial membrane tissues from knee joints of normal control, CIA, and EMS (5 g/kg) treated CIA mice, respectively. Black arrows indicate vascular structures. (b) Histological scores of vessel density from each group were analyzed. (c) CD31 immunohistochemical staining photomicrographs of synovial membrane tissues from knee joints of normal control, model CIA, and EMS (5 g/kg) treated CIA mice are shown, respectively. Black arrows indicate CD31-positive expression. (d) IOD values of CD31 expression by immunohistochemical analyses were measured by Image-Pro Plus 7 software. (e) Representative images of the localization of positive VEGF in synovial membrane tissues of knee joints from control, CIA, and EMS-treated mice, respectively. (f) Immunohistochemical analyses of VEGF-positive expression were measured. (g) Representative images of sections of joint synovial membrane tissues stained using Alexa 594-conjugated-anti-CD31 antibody (red) to label human endothelial colony forming cells-lined vessels and Alexa 488-conjugated anti-αSMA antibody (green) to label perivascular cells. White arrows indicate CD31⁺/αSMA⁻ blood microvessels. Immunofluorescence analyses of the numbers of CD31⁺/αSMA⁻ immature vessels (h), CD31⁺/αSMA⁺ mature vessels (i) and total vessels (j) in joint synovial membrane tissues. Data are represented as means ± SEM (n = 6). , compared to the control group; , , and , compared to the CIA group.