Histology of the joints in WT and TNF^ΔARE mice.

<p>H&E staining of the ankle joints of <b>(A)</b> air-exposed WT mice, <b>(B)</b> CS-exposed WT mice, <b>(C)</b> air-exposed TNF^ΔARE mice and <b>(D)</b> CS-exposed TNF^ΔARE mice. <b>(E)</b> Histological score of inflammation in the joints of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice. Histological inflammation is increased in TNF^ΔARE mice compared to WT mice (p < 0,005). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001.</p

Inflammatory gene expression in lung tissue and BAL fluid of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice.

<p>mRNA expression of <b>(A)</b> Tnf-α, <b>(C)</b> Tnfr1, <b>(D)</b> Tnfr2, <b>(E)</b> Ccl2, <b>(F)</b> Cxcl1 and <b>(G)</b> Cxcl2 in lung tissue of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice exposed to air or CS during 2 weeks. <b>(B)</b> Protein levels of TNF-α in BAL fluid of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice exposed to air or CS during 2 weeks. mRNA expression of <b>(H)</b> Tnf-α, <b>(J)</b> Tnfr1, <b>(K)</b> Tnfr2, <b>(L)</b> Ccl2, <b>(M)</b> Cxcl1 and <b>(N)</b> Cxcl2 in lung tissue of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice exposed to air or CS during 4 weeks. <b>(I)</b> Protein levels of TNF-α in BAL fluid of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice exposed to air or CS during 4 weeks. Expression levels are relative to the expression of 3 reference genes (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (Hprt1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and transferring receptor protein 1 (Tfrc)). Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001.</p

Mean clinical arthritis score in WT and TNF^ΔARE mice.

<p>Clinical arthritis score during the course of <b>(A)</b> 2 weeks (WT vs. TNF^ΔARE: p < 0,005) and <b>(B)</b> 4 weeks CS exposure (WT vs. TNF^ΔARE: p < 0,005).</p

Histologic score to quantify the degree of ileal inflammation.

<p>PMN: polymorphonuclear cells. ML: mononuclear leukocytes. Hpf: high power field. Scoring scheme adapted from Kontoyiannis et al, 2002.</p><p>Histologic score to quantify the degree of ileal inflammation.</p

Mean TNF-α levels in serum of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice.

<p>Protein levels of TNF-α in serum of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice throughout the 4 weeks air- or CS-exposure. As expected, TNF-α was increased in TNF^ΔARE mice compared to WT mice (p < 0,005).</p

Inflammatory cell counts in BAL fluid of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice.

<p>Numbers of <b>(A)</b> total cells, <b>(B)</b> macrophages, <b>(C)</b> neutrophils, <b>(D)</b> dendritic cells, <b>(E)</b> CD4⁺ T-lymphocytes and <b>(F)</b> CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in BAL fluid of mice exposed to air or CS during 2 weeks. Numbers of <b>(G)</b> total cells, <b>(H)</b> macrophages, <b>(I)</b> neutrophils, <b>(J)</b> dendritic cells, <b>(K)</b> CD4⁺ T-lymphocytes and <b>(L)</b> CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in BAL fluid of mice exposed to air or CS during 4 weeks. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001.</p

Parameters of gut inflammation in WT and TNF^ΔARE mice.

<p><b>(A)</b> Absolute weight of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice during 4 weeks air or CS exposure. <b>(B)</b> Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) protein levels in the faeces of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice, as a marker for intestinal inflammation. <b>(C)</b> Combined acute and chronic inflammation score in the terminal ileum of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice upon 2 weeks air or CS exposure. <b>(D)</b> Combined acute and chronic inflammation score in the terminal ileum of WT and TNF^ΔARE mice upon 4 weeks air or CS exposure. Histology of the ileum in <b>(E)</b> WT and <b>(F)</b> TNF^ΔARE mice upon 2 weeks of air- or CS-exposure. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001.</p