Fig. 3

Chondrocyte marker expression after treatment with methotrexate and BMP4 inhibitors. In persistent JIA FLS, there was a − 1.97-fold decrease in ColX expression in cells treated with methotrexate compared to untreated (p = 0.002) (A). Methotrexate reduced ColX expression in ETB JIA FLS by − 2.03-fold when compared to untreated cells (p = 0.020) (A). In polyarticular JIA FLS, cells treated with methotrexate had decreased expression of ColX by − 3.63-fold compared to untreated cells (A). In persistent JIA FLS, Col2 (FC = 1.34; p < 0.000) and Acan (FC = 1.09; p = 0.036) protein concentration significantly increased in cells treated with noggin compared to untreated cells (B). ColX (FC = -1.58; p = 0.006) protein expression was significantly decreased in cells treated with noggin compared to untreated cells (B). In ETB JIA FLS, Col2 (FC = 1.30; p < 0.000) and Acan (FC = 1.18; p = 0.009) protein expression was significantly increased in cells treated with noggin compared to untreated cells (B). ColX (FC = -1.56; p < 0.000) protein concentration significantly decreased in cells treated with noggin compared to untreated cells (B). In polyarticular JIA FLS, Col2 (FC = 1.27; p < 0.000) protein concentration significantly increased in cells treated with noggin compared to untreated cells. ColX (FC = -2.16; p = 0.005) protein expression was significantly decreased in cells treated with noggin compared to untreated cells (B). In persistent JIA FLS, Col2 (FC = 1.32; p < 0.000) was significantly elevated in cells treated with chordin compared to untreated cells while ColX (FC = -1.45; p = 0.006) protein levels significantly decreased in cells treated with chordin compared to untreated cells (C). In ETB JIA FLS, Col2 (FC = 1.34; p = 0.004) was significantly elevated in cells treated with chordin compared to untreated cells while ColX (FC = -1.38 p = 0.013) protein levels significantly decreased in cells treated with chordin compared to untreated cells (C). In ETB JIA FLS, Col2 (FC = 1.30; p = 0.004) was significantly elevated in cells treated with chordin compared to untreated cells while ColX (FC = -2.14 p = 0.006) protein levels significantly decreased in cells treated with chordin compared to untreated cells (C)