Figure 3
Stimulatory activity of AREG on the proliferation of RA-FLS. (A) Effect of AREG on the proliferation of RA-FLS. Three RA-FLS lines and one OA-FLS line were cultured with the indicated concentrations of AREG. After 24 h of stimulation, the cells were labeled with 3H-thymidine for 18 h and then harvested on glass filters with a cell harvester. The incorporated radioactivity was measured by liquid scintillation counting. The values are shown as the means ± SD of three independent experiments. Significant differences are shown by asterisks (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01). (B) Expression profiles of EGFR family members in FLS. cDNA samples of the four FLS lines used in the proliferation assay were subjected to real-time PCR analysis. (C) Expression profiles of the receptors and sheddases of the EGF family in synovia. cDNAs of synovial tissues from 10 RA patients and 6 OA patients were subjected to real-time PCR analysis.