Figure 3.
DNA demethylation with 5’-AZA increased miR-124 gene expression at the onset of chondrogenesis under hypoxic conditions. C3H10T1/2 cells were cultured as cell pellets under hypoxic (2% O2) conditions in the presence or absence of 5’-AZA for 3-21 days. The expression of chondrogenesis related marker genes was assessed by PCR and normalized to the expression of ribosomal 18sRNA. The fold change in gene expression was calculated using the 2-ΔΔCt method. The time points when gene expression was assessed are indicated on the X-axis. The mRNA expression levels of (A) miR-124; (B) NFATc1; (C) Sox9; (D) aggrecan; (E) collagen IIa1; and (F) collagen Xa1 are shown. The bars represent means ± SD (n=3). *P<0.05 compared to the condition without 5’-AZA.