Fig. 2

Neutrophils from r-axSpA patients display altered NETosis-related signal-transduction pathways. a Relative expression levels of inflammatory genes. b Peroxide and peroxinitrite production (DCFHDA and DHRH123), intracellular glutathione (CMF-DA) levels and the percentage of cells with mitochondrial depolarization. Bar graphs show the MFI to peroxide, peroxinitrite and glutathione levels. Representative histograms and dot plots are shown in right panels. c Intracellular MPO and NE protein expressions. Bar graphs show the MFI. d Relative PAD4 and CitH3 protein expression. Representative blots are shown. Lanes were run on the same gel but were non-contiguous. Cropping lines are used in the figure. a-d Values are presented as mean ± SEM (HDs, n = 32; r-axSpA patients, n = 30). The data were analyzed using an Independent Samples t test or a Mann-Whitney U test. *vs. HDs (P < 0.05). AU, arbitrary units; CitH3, citrullinated histone H3; HDs, healthy donors; IL, interleukin; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity; MPO, myeloperoxidase; NE, neutrophil elastase; PAD4, peptidylarginine deiminase 4; r-axSpA, radiographic axial spondyloarthritis; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription; TNF, tumor necrosis factor