Figure 11. Effects of exogenous MMP-3 on odontoblast-like cells apoptosis induced by IL-1βandMMP-3 siRNA treatment.

Cells were incubated in serum-free medium in the absence or presence of MMP-3 (5, 10, 20 and 30 ng/mL), and MMP-3 siRNA combined with IL-1β (0 and 0.25 ng/mL) for 24 h, and then DNA fragmentation (i.e., apoptosis index) was evaluated by the BrdU-labeled DNA fragmentation ELISA. Data are the mean ± SD of six independent experiments; (vs. as control with the IL-1βaddition (0.25 ng/mL), **P<0.01, ^† P<0.05 as indicated by the bracket).