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. 2011 Apr 29;6(4):e19163. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019163

Figure 7. siRNA against ATG-5 protects chondrocytes against apoptosis as well as autophagy.

Figure 7

For following assays, cells were harvested 24 h after treatment. NC siRNA, RNAi negative control; β-actin, a loading control. (A) A western blot assay showed that siRNA against ATG-5 efficiently reduced the expression level of ATG-5 protein and suppressed the conversion of LC3 from LC3-I to LC3-II. Confocal microscopy indicated that siRNA against ATG-5 suppressed the appearance of a punctuate LC3 pattern in chondrocytes co-treated with DRB and TNF-α. (B) A viability assay showed that siRNA against ATG-5 significantly protected chondrocytes against cell death (** P<0.01). (C) Flow cytometry demonstrated that siRNA against ATG-5 prevented the accumulation of subdiploid cells. (D) A western blot assay showed that siRNA against ATG-5 protected chondrocytes against the activation of caspase-2L, -8 and -3. (E) A western blot assay showing that siRNA against ATG-7 efficiently reduced the expression level of ATG-7 protein. See Figure 2 for other definitions.