Figure 2. Forced expression of microRNA-135b protects osteoblastic cells from Dex.

Stable osteoblastic OB-6 cells A-C. or hFOB1.19 cells D-F. expressing microRNA-135b (“miR-135b”) or non-sense control microRNA (“miR-C”) were treated with or without Dex (1 μM) for 24 hours, cell viability (MTT assay, A and D), apoptosis (Histone DNA ELISA assay, B and E) and cell death (trypan blue assay, C and F) were tested. Experiments in this figure were repeated four times, and similar results were obtained. “Ctrl” stands for untreated control group. “Trans” stands for transfection reagents only. *p<0.05 vs. “miR-C” cells with Dex treatment.