Flemingia philippinensis Flavonoids Relieve Bone Erosion and Inflammatory Mediators in CIA Mice by Downregulating NF-κB and MAPK Pathways

Figure 2

Effect of FPF on inflammation and cartilage loss in CIA mice. Starting at day 7 after the CII challenge, mice in the FPF group were treated daily with 40 mg/kg FPF until day 46; mice in the vehicle group received water alone. H&E staining showing that the vehicle group had inflammatory tissue (black arrows) and erosion (white arrows), but the FPF group only had inflammatory tissue (black arrow) and no erosion (a). Toluidine blue staining shows a decreased amount of proteoglycans and an incomplete staining (black arrows) of the joint in the vehicle group, while the FPF group shows a relatively normal amount of proteoglycans and a complete cartilage (purple) and bones of the joint (b). TRAP staining showing the destruction of cartilage and invading pannus with a massive amount of osteoclast infiltration in the vehicle group; these changes were mitigated in the FPF treatment group (c). Immunohistochemistry for cathepsin K and MMP-9 and the density grades (d, e). Inflammation infiltration, bone erosion, and pannus formation (A, B, C), cartilage destruction (D), and osteoclast activity (E) were graded for each limb and ankle section for H&E staining, toluidine blue staining, and TRAP staining (0–5 per section). The results show the mean of the three mice per . and compared with the vehicle group. A: articular cartilage; J: joint space; M: synovial membrane; P: pannus formation. Magnification: ×50. Bar: 200 μm.

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