title: NLRP3 Inflammasome Plays an Important Role in the Pathogenesis of Collagen-Induced Arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between NLRP3 and the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. The mice were divided into two groups: the model group (CIA, n = 16) and the control group (Normal, n = 8). The mice were sacrificed seven weeks after immunization. The arthritis score and imaging evaluation (X-rays, Micro-CT, and MRI) were performed. Synovial tissue NLRP3 expression and peripheral blood cytokine levels were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The arthritis score (6.00 ± 2.52), imaging score (4.63 ± 0.92), and synovial tissue NLRP3 expression (4.00 ± 2.03) significantly increased in the CIA mice. The expression of synovial NLRP3 was positively correlated with arthritis clinical and radiographic scores (r = 0.792 and r = 0.669, resp.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The synovial NLRP3 expression increased at the early onset of RA. Synovial NLRP3 expression level was correlated with the clinical arthritis severity and extent of radiological destruction, suggesting that NLRP3 is involved in the pathogenesis of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot 010050, China.
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003094:Collagen / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C492716:Nlrp3 protein, mouse; D003094:Collagen