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. 2014 Jun 16;34(2):451–463. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2014.1808

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Expression levels of miR-146a, Smad4 and VEGF were monitored by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis at 24 h after transfection. (A-C) Human chondrocytes were transfected with miR-146a mimics (146aMi) and negative control mimics (MiNC). (D-F) Human chondrocytes were transfected with miR-146a inhibitors (146aIn) and negative control inhibitors (InNC). (A) Overexpression of miR-146a significantly inhibited Smad4 mRNA levels (*P<0.05; bars, means ± SD; n=3). (B) VEGF mRNA expression was upregulated by the overexpression of miR-146a (**P<0.01; bars, means ± SD; n=3). (C) Protein levels of Smad4 and VEGF were, respectively, decreased and increased in chondrocytes transfected with miR-146a mimics. GAPDH was used as an internal control. (D) mRNA levels of Smad4 were increased by the knockdown of miR-146a with miR-146a inhibitor (**P<0.01; bars, means ± SD; n=3). (E) mRNA levels of VEGF were reduced by the knockdown of miR-146a with miR-146a inhibitor (**P<0.01; bars, means ± SD; n=3). (F) Protein levels of Smad4 and VEGF were respectively increased and decreased in chondrocytes transfected with miR-146a inhibitor. GAPDH was used as an internal control.