Figure 3. The involvement of autophagy in DHA inhibition of catabolic genes in chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions for 24 hours.
Representative images are shown. (A,B) The expression of ATG5 in chondrocytes 48 hours after ATG5-siRNA transfection was analyzed by Western blotting, and the optical density of ATG5/β-actin was analyzed. Data represent mean ± 95% CI, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 6. (C,D) Western blotting analysis of LC3 levels in chondrocytes after ATG5 silence. Data represent mean ± 95% CI, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 6. (E) AO staining for acidic vesicular organelles in chondrocytes 48 hours after transfection with ATG5 siRNA. F. 48 hours after ATG5 silencing, mRNA levels of MMP-3 and -13, ADAMTS-4 and -5, CCL-2 and -5, and CXCL1 in TNF-α- and/or DHA-treated chondrocytes were analyzed by real-time PCR. Data represent as mean ± 95% CI, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 6.