BVCARHAdV5-PUMA-mediated reduction of joint inflammation. Rats develop arthritis 8–10 days after adjuvant injection. After the onset of arthritis, at day 14 post injection, vectors (10 μl) were delivered intra-articularly in each ankle. Thirty rats were enrolled and divided into six groups (five rats per group). Three control groups consisted of BVCAR alone (105 PFU per joint), BVCAR (105 PFU per joint) complexed with an empty adenoviral vector (HAdV5-null; 109 PFU per joint), and HAdV5-PUMA alone (109 PFU per joint). The three therapeutic groups consisted of BVCAR (105 PFU per joint) complexed with HAdV5-PUMA at increasing concentrations (107, 108 and 109 PFU per joint). Values represented in the bar graphs are the means ± s.e.m. Differences (Delta) in the biological parameters are defined by the values obtained on the day of follow-up minus the values obtained on the day of intra-articular injection. a Differences in ankle circumferences. Values of ankle circumferences were obtained from perpendicular caliper measurements of ankle diameter, using a geometric formula. b Differences in ankle articular index scores. c Differences in rat body weights. D day after intraarticular injection of vector; *P < 0.05 vs BVCAR alone; $ P < 0.05 vs BVCARHAdV5-null; # P < 0.05 vs HAdV5-PUMA alone; § P < 0.05 vs BVCARHAdV5-PUMA (109 PFU per joint); ♮ P < 0.05 for ANOVA one-way test