Tissue-specific dysregulation of S100A8 in synovium and cartilage reveals limitations of NSAID therapy in inflammatory arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis involves complex immune responses in both synovial and cartilage tissues, yet the mechanisms underlying tissue-specific inflammatory regulation remain unclear. Using a carrageenan-induced rat arthritis model, we found that synovium and cartilage displayed distinct transcriptional responses, with synovium showing broader immune activation. Gene ontology and KEGG analyses revealed enrichment of inflammatory and immune pathways in both tissues, more prominently in synovium. Cross-species validation using peripheral leukocyte transcriptomes from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients identified S100A8 as the most significantly upregulated gene, supporting its clinical relevance. Histological and transcriptomic analyses confirmed elevated S100A8 expression and macrophage activation in synovium, whereas cartilage showed reduced S100A8 levels. Expression of macrophage-related genes was differentially regulated between tissues, suggesting local microenvironment-specific immune modulation. Diclofenac treatment alleviated paw swelling, reduced M1 macrophage markers, matrix metalloproteinases, and inflammasome-related proteins, yet paradoxically increased S100A8 expression in both synovium and cartilage. Despite overall inflammation control, persistent S100A8 upregulation and incomplete inhibition of innate immune signaling revealed a limitation of NSAID therapy. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of S100A8 with Paquinimod—particularly when combined with diclofenac—significantly reduced paw swelling, attenuated synovial and cartilage damage, suppressed inflammasome and MMP activation, and promoted a robust shift from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage polarization. These findings highlight the cooperative anti-inflammatory benefits of dual S100A8 inhibition and NSAID treatment, and further support S100A8 as a key mediator of persistent inflammation and a promising therapeutic target in inflammatory arthritis. • Carrageenan-induced arthritis shows distinct transcriptional changes in synovium versus cartilage. • Synovial S100A8 is upregulated in inflammatory arthritis and remains elevated after NSAID treatment. • Macrophage-derived S100A8 correlates with inflammasome activation and cartilage damage in synovial tissue. • NSAID treatment reduces M1 macrophage polarization and matrix degradation but fails to suppress S100A8 expression.