Figure 6.
Effect of SVT on NO and iNOS expression in SNP-treated articular chondrocytes. Cells were treated or not with 2 mM L-NMMA for 1 h and then incubated with 50 μM SVT or/and 1 mM SNP. (a) Production of NO determined by the NO assay (*p < 0.05 compared to control, #p < 0.05 compared to control, and †p < 0.05 compared to control). (b) mRNA expression analyzed by RT-PCR. (c) Protein expression analyzed by western blotting. MMP: metalloproteinase; SNP: sodium nitroprusside; SVT: simvastatin; L-NMMA: L-NG-monomethyl arginine; iNOS: inducible nitric oxide synthase; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.