Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of MC1R deletion on the immune system of mice at rest. (a-d) Absolute values of blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils in resting WT and MC1R-KO mice. (e-h) Proportions of blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils in resting WT and MC1R-KO mice. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ns: Not significant. MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, WT: Wild type.

Article Snippet: The MC1R knockout (MC1R-KO) + stattic group was intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg of stattic (HY-13818, MedChemExpress, Monmouth County, NJ, USA) once every 2 days.

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO mice showing no resistance to DNFB-induced DTH. (a) Increase in the proliferation ability of splenocytes by MC1R deletion. (b) Ear swelling levels of WT and MC1R-KO mice from the same litter subjected to DNFB-induced DTH. (c) Spleen weight. (d) Spleen index of mice in different groups. (e and f) Detection of TNF-a and IL-6 levels in different groups of mice. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ns: Not significant. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, DNFB: Dinitrofluorobenzene, DTH: Delayed-type hypersensitivity, MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, WT: Wild type, TNF-a: Tumor necrosis factor-a, IL: Interleukin.

Article Snippet: The MC1R knockout (MC1R-KO) + stattic group was intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg of stattic (HY-13818, MedChemExpress, Monmouth County, NJ, USA) once every 2 days.

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO mice being more sensitive to CIA stimulation. (a) Representative images of the feet of WT and MC1R-KO mice treated with CII. (b) Clinical scores of mice treated with CII. (c) Incidence of arthritis in mice treated with CII. (d) Representative histopathological sections of joints in WT and MC1R-KO CIA mice. Untreated mice were used as negative controls. Scale bar: 100 or 200 μm. Objective: ×400 or ×200. The red arrows point to the areas with obvious damage. (e) Statistical data on histopathological scores of mouse tissues. (f) Serum anti-CII antibody levels. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ ✶ P < 0.01. Ctrl: Control, MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, CIA: Collagen-induced arthritis, WT: Wild type, MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor.

Article Snippet: The MC1R knockout (MC1R-KO) + stattic group was intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg of stattic (HY-13818, MedChemExpress, Monmouth County, NJ, USA) once every 2 days.

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Control, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of MC1R deletion on T cell subsets in CIA mice. (a-d) Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) kanalysis of splenic tissue cells from WT and MC1R-KO mice under CIA. Percentages of Th1 (a and c) and Th2 (b and d) cells were measured. (e-h) FACS analysis of splenic tissue cells from WT and MC1R-KO mice under CIA. Percentages of Treg (e and g) and Th17 (f and h) cells were measured. n =3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ P < 0.05, ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ns: Not significant. MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, CIA: Collagen-induced arthritis, MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, Th: T helper, WT: Wild type, IFN-g: Interferon-g; Treg: Regulatory T, Foxp3: Forkhead box protein P3.

Article Snippet: The MC1R knockout (MC1R-KO) + stattic group was intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg of stattic (HY-13818, MedChemExpress, Monmouth County, NJ, USA) once every 2 days.

Techniques: Fluorescence, FACS, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO promotes the production of inflammatory cytokines in CII-treated mice. (a and b) ELISA measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17 and IFN-g. (c and d) ELISA measurement of anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-10 and IL-4. (e-g) qRT-PCR measurement of cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-1b. (h-m) Western blot analysis to validate changes in immune-related markers by detecting the protein expression levels of p-STAT3, STAT3, T-bet, RORgt, IL-17, and IFN-g. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ✶ ✶ ✶ P < 0.001, ns: Not significant. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IL: Interleukin, IFN-g: Interferon, TNF-a: Tumor necrosis factor-a, p-STAT3: Phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, RORgt: Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor g-t, GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, qRT-PCR: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Article Snippet: The MC1R knockout (MC1R-KO) + stattic group was intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg of stattic (HY-13818, MedChemExpress, Monmouth County, NJ, USA) once every 2 days.

Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, Expressing, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out, Reverse Transcription, Polymerase Chain Reaction

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO mouse splenocytes displaying higher CII-specific T cell immune response in vitro . (a-d) Proportions of Th17 cells and Treg cells within the cell population measured by FACS analysis. (e and f) Changes in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IFN-g measured by ELISA. (g and h) Changes in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 measured by ELISA. n =3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ P < 0.05, ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ns: Not significant. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, Th17: T helper 17, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IL: Interleukin, IFN-g: Interferon.

Article Snippet: The MC1R knockout (MC1R-KO) + stattic group was intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg of stattic (HY-13818, MedChemExpress, Monmouth County, NJ, USA) once every 2 days.

Techniques: In Vitro, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: Stattic inhibits the expression levels of proinflammatory factors in MC1R-KO mice. (a-e) Changes in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IFN-g, IL-6, IL-1b, and TNF-a measured by ELISA. (f and g) Changes in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 measured by ELISA. (h-m) Western blot analysis to validate changes in immune-related markers by detecting the protein expression levels of p-STAT3, STAT3, T-bet, RORgt, IL-17, and IFN-g. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ P < 0.05, ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ✶ ✶ ✶ P < 0.001. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, IL: Interleukin, IFN-g: Interferon, TNF-a: Tumor necrosis factor-a, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, p-STAT3: Phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, RORgt: Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor g-t.

Article Snippet: The MC1R knockout (MC1R-KO) + stattic group was intraperitoneally injected with 5 mg/kg of stattic (HY-13818, MedChemExpress, Monmouth County, NJ, USA) once every 2 days.

Techniques: Expressing, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Western Blot, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of MC1R deletion on the immune system of mice at rest. (a-d) Absolute values of blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils in resting WT and MC1R-KO mice. (e-h) Proportions of blood leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils in resting WT and MC1R-KO mice. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ns: Not significant. MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, WT: Wild type.

Article Snippet: Twenty wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 30 MC1R transgenic mice (C57BL/6J, Cya-Mc1rem1/Cya, S-KO-03149, Cyagen [Suzhou] Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) were bred at the University.

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO mice showing no resistance to DNFB-induced DTH. (a) Increase in the proliferation ability of splenocytes by MC1R deletion. (b) Ear swelling levels of WT and MC1R-KO mice from the same litter subjected to DNFB-induced DTH. (c) Spleen weight. (d) Spleen index of mice in different groups. (e and f) Detection of TNF-a and IL-6 levels in different groups of mice. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ns: Not significant. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, DNFB: Dinitrofluorobenzene, DTH: Delayed-type hypersensitivity, MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, WT: Wild type, TNF-a: Tumor necrosis factor-a, IL: Interleukin.

Article Snippet: Twenty wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 30 MC1R transgenic mice (C57BL/6J, Cya-Mc1rem1/Cya, S-KO-03149, Cyagen [Suzhou] Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) were bred at the University.

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO mice being more sensitive to CIA stimulation. (a) Representative images of the feet of WT and MC1R-KO mice treated with CII. (b) Clinical scores of mice treated with CII. (c) Incidence of arthritis in mice treated with CII. (d) Representative histopathological sections of joints in WT and MC1R-KO CIA mice. Untreated mice were used as negative controls. Scale bar: 100 or 200 μm. Objective: ×400 or ×200. The red arrows point to the areas with obvious damage. (e) Statistical data on histopathological scores of mouse tissues. (f) Serum anti-CII antibody levels. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ ✶ P < 0.01. Ctrl: Control, MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, CIA: Collagen-induced arthritis, WT: Wild type, MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor.

Article Snippet: Twenty wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 30 MC1R transgenic mice (C57BL/6J, Cya-Mc1rem1/Cya, S-KO-03149, Cyagen [Suzhou] Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) were bred at the University.

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Control, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of MC1R deletion on T cell subsets in CIA mice. (a-d) Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) kanalysis of splenic tissue cells from WT and MC1R-KO mice under CIA. Percentages of Th1 (a and c) and Th2 (b and d) cells were measured. (e-h) FACS analysis of splenic tissue cells from WT and MC1R-KO mice under CIA. Percentages of Treg (e and g) and Th17 (f and h) cells were measured. n =3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ P < 0.05, ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ns: Not significant. MC1R: Melanocortin 1 receptor, CIA: Collagen-induced arthritis, MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, Th: T helper, WT: Wild type, IFN-g: Interferon-g; Treg: Regulatory T, Foxp3: Forkhead box protein P3.

Article Snippet: Twenty wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 30 MC1R transgenic mice (C57BL/6J, Cya-Mc1rem1/Cya, S-KO-03149, Cyagen [Suzhou] Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) were bred at the University.

Techniques: Fluorescence, FACS, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO promotes the production of inflammatory cytokines in CII-treated mice. (a and b) ELISA measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17 and IFN-g. (c and d) ELISA measurement of anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-10 and IL-4. (e-g) qRT-PCR measurement of cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-1b. (h-m) Western blot analysis to validate changes in immune-related markers by detecting the protein expression levels of p-STAT3, STAT3, T-bet, RORgt, IL-17, and IFN-g. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ✶ ✶ ✶ P < 0.001, ns: Not significant. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IL: Interleukin, IFN-g: Interferon, TNF-a: Tumor necrosis factor-a, p-STAT3: Phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, RORgt: Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor g-t, GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, qRT-PCR: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Article Snippet: Twenty wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 30 MC1R transgenic mice (C57BL/6J, Cya-Mc1rem1/Cya, S-KO-03149, Cyagen [Suzhou] Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) were bred at the University.

Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, Expressing, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out, Reverse Transcription, Polymerase Chain Reaction

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: MC1R-KO mouse splenocytes displaying higher CII-specific T cell immune response in vitro . (a-d) Proportions of Th17 cells and Treg cells within the cell population measured by FACS analysis. (e and f) Changes in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IFN-g measured by ELISA. (g and h) Changes in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 measured by ELISA. n =3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ P < 0.05, ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ns: Not significant. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, Th17: T helper 17, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IL: Interleukin, IFN-g: Interferon.

Article Snippet: Twenty wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 30 MC1R transgenic mice (C57BL/6J, Cya-Mc1rem1/Cya, S-KO-03149, Cyagen [Suzhou] Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) were bred at the University.

Techniques: In Vitro, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out

Journal: CytoJournal

Article Title: Melanocortin 1 receptor alleviates collagen-induced arthritis by upregulating T helper 1/T helper 17 cells and downregulating regulatory T cells

doi: 10.25259/Cytojournal_16_2025

Figure Lengend Snippet: Stattic inhibits the expression levels of proinflammatory factors in MC1R-KO mice. (a-e) Changes in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17, IFN-g, IL-6, IL-1b, and TNF-a measured by ELISA. (f and g) Changes in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 measured by ELISA. (h-m) Western blot analysis to validate changes in immune-related markers by detecting the protein expression levels of p-STAT3, STAT3, T-bet, RORgt, IL-17, and IFN-g. n = 3. Data are the mean ± Standard deviation. ✶ P < 0.05, ✶ ✶ P < 0.01, ✶ ✶ ✶ P < 0.001. MC1R KO: Melanocortin 1 receptor knockout, IL: Interleukin, IFN-g: Interferon, TNF-a: Tumor necrosis factor-a, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, p-STAT3: Phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, RORgt: Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor g-t.

Article Snippet: Twenty wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and 30 MC1R transgenic mice (C57BL/6J, Cya-Mc1rem1/Cya, S-KO-03149, Cyagen [Suzhou] Biotechnology Co., Ltd.) were bred at the University.

Techniques: Expressing, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Western Blot, Standard Deviation, Knock-Out