Fig. 1

Inflammation and catabolism are more active in synovial tissue and FLS in MetS-KOA than in nMetS-KOA. a H&E staining of synovial tissue from MetS-KOA and nMetS-KOA patients. Representative images are shown. The severity of synovitis was assessed using the histopathological scoring criteria for synovitis. n = 5. b In vitro mRNA levels of CCL2, CCL3, and CXCL8 and protein level of CCL3 in MetS-KOA-FLS relative to those in nMetS-KOA-FLS. c In vitro mRNA levels of adhesion factors ICAM1 and VCAM1 in MetS-KOA-FLS relative to those in nMetS-KOA-FLS. d In vitro mRNA levels of IL6 and TNFα of MetS-KOA-FLS relative to those in nMetS-KOA-FLS. e In vitro mRNA expression of VEGF and FGF2 of nMetS-KOA-FLS and MetS-KOA-FLS. f In vitro mRNA and protein levels of MMP13 and ADAMTS4 of nMetS-KOA-FLS and MetS-KOA-FLS. g Cell adhesion assays to detect the adhesion ability of FLS. Count of THP-1 cells after co-culture (3:1) with nMetS-KOA-FLS and MetS-KOA-FLS for 6 h. h Invasion assays to detect the invasion ability of FLS. Count of invasive nMetS-KOA-FLS or MetS-KOA-FLS cells. n = 5. All data are expressed as means ± s.e.m. Statistical significance is indicated as *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001, as assessed by two-sided Student’s t-test