Fig. 1. Influences of TH gene overexpression or silence in ankle joints on limb inflammation in mice with CIA. 2×10⁵ TU of TH lentiviral vector or TH-shRNA lentiviral vector was injected into ankle joints of CIA mice on day 33 post-immunization. Expression of TH protein in ankle joints was examined by Western blot (A). The clinical arthritis score was observed beginning from day 21 post-immunization (B). TH gene overexpression in ankle joints of mice with CIA significantly suppressed clinical arthritis score at observed time points beginning from day 51 until day 69 post immunization compared with TH-mock control. TH gene silence in ankle joints further enhanced these effects induced by CIA compared with Scr-shRNA control. Ankle joint and rear paw thickness was measured on day 69 post-immunization (C). Level of anti-CII IgG antibody was upregulated in mice with CIA, but this upregulation was not influenced by TH gene overexpression or silence in ankle joints (D). ^**p<0.01, versus intact control; ⁺⁺p<0.01, compared with TH mock control; ^##p<0.01, compared with Scr-shRNA control.