Fig. 5: PD-L1 bioengineering for the treatment of CIA.

a Schematic illustration of the treatment process. b Representative images of fluorescence distribution in mice with arthritis at different times. c Ex vivo fluorescent imaging of main organs and legs. d Quantitative analysis of fluorescence intensity in different organs. Data represent the mean ± s.d. (n = 3 biologically independent samples). e Representative images of hind paw of mice in different treatment groups at the time of each treatment. f Representative 3D-reconstructed micro-CT images of right hind ankle joints of normal and arthritic mice after different treatments on day 48. g Right hind ankle joint swelling behaviors of arthritic mice. Data represent the mean ± s.d. (n = 5 biologically independent samples). h, i Representative plots (h) and quantifications (i) of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen of mice analyzed by the flow cytometry on day 5 post-treatments. Data represent the mean ± s.d. (n = 5 biologically independent samples). j, k Representative plots (j) and quantifications (k) of CD4⁺FoxP3⁺ T cells in the spleen of mice from different treatment groups analyzed by the flow cytometry. Data represent the mean ± s.d. (n = 5 biologically independent samples). l Cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-1β in the serum of different treatment groups analyzed by ELISA. Data represent the mean ± s.d. (n = 4 biologically independent samples). The data were analyzed by one-way two-sided ANOVA; ^****P < 0.0001, ^***P < 0.001, ^**P < 0.01, ^*P < 0.05.