Figure 7.
MitoQ attenuated DMM-induced cartilage degeneration
After DMM surgery, MitoQ (0.1 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg) or vehicle was intra-articularly injected into mice’ knee joints twice a week for 8 weeks.
(A and B) Safranin O staining/fast green was used to measure cartilage degeneration. The OARSI scores were used to assess the progression of OA. Scale bar: 200 μm and 100 μm (The sham and the DMM +0.1 mg/kg MitoQ group (n = 8), the DMM and the DMM +1 mg/kg MitoQ group (n = 9)).
(C–H) Immunohistochemistry staining was used to measure COL2A1, NRF2, HO-1, GPX4, Parkin, and PINK1 levels. Quantification of COL2A1-, MMP13-, NRF2- HO-1-, GPX4-, Parkin-, and PINK1-positive staining cells in vivo (scale bar: 100 μm). ∗p < 0.05 vs. the sham group, #p < 0.05 vs. the DMM group, ##p < 0.01 vs. the DMM group, n = 7 or 8. Data are represented as mean ± SD.