Three days after lipopolysaccharide
treatment collagen-immunized mice were injected periarticularly with
5×10 particles of Ad-mIL-4, Ad-eGFP, or saline.
Arthritis index. Subsequently, severity of disease was assessed every other day
using an established macroscopic scoring system ranging from 0 to 4: 0, normal;
1, detectable arthritis with erythma; 2, significant swelling and redness; 3,
severe swelling and redness from joint to digit; and 4, maximal swelling with
ankylosis or necrosis. The average macroscopic score was expressed as a
cumulative value for all paws, with a maximum possible score of 16 per mouse
( = 20).