FIG. 2.

p21 knockdown. (A) mRNA expression of p21 in passage 2 cells either NT or expressing p21 shRNA (p21sh). Expression was normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh) and NT controls. Data from n=3 of a representative experiment. Asterisk indicates p<0.05 compared to NT cells. (B) Western blot for protein levels of p21 and GAPDH in passage 2 cells. (C) Western blot for protein levels of p21 and GAPDH after passage 2 cells were in chondrogenic pellet culture for 28 days. (D) Western blot for protein levels of p21 and GAPDH in passage 2 cells. Cells were either NT or transduced with a lentivirus expressing a scrambled (scr) control shRNA. (E) Chondrogenic pellet cultures from passage 2 NT or scr cells. Pellets were cryosectioned and stained with safranin-O (sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), red), fast-green (collagen, green), and hematoxylin (nuclei, blue). Scale bar=100 μm. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea