Fig. 1.

Knockdown of circSEC24A promoted proliferation of chondrocyte, but suppressed chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation.(A) Schematic drawing illustrated the formation of circSEC24A. (B) qRT-PCR analysis of circSEC24A and SEC24A after RNase R treatment. (C) The levels of circSEC24A in primary chondrocytes were determined by qRT-PCR. (D) The level of circSEC24A was determined by qRT-PCR. (E) Cell viability was monitored by MTT assay. (F) Cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V/PI staining followed by flow cytometry. (G) The protein levels of cleaved caspase 3, Bax and Bcl-2 were determined by Western blot. (H) The mRNA levels of Col2a1, ACAN, MMP13 and ADAMTS5 were determined by qRT-PCR. (I) The protein levels of Col2a1, ACAN, MMP13 and ADAMTS5 were determined by Western blot. (J) The secreted TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were measured by ELISA assays. ∗, P < 0.05; ∗∗, P < 0.01; ∗∗∗, P < 0.001.