Figure 7.

circRNA.33186 Exerts Biological Functions in Chondrocytes via Sponging miR-127-5p

Chondrocytes were transfected with si-circRNA or a combination of si-circRNA and miR-127-5p inhibitor, and then treated with 10 ng/mL IL-1β for 24 h. (A and B) The mRNA levels of MMP-13 (A) and Col2a1 (B) were determined by qRT-PCR. (C and D) The protein levels of MMP-13 (C) and Col2a1 (D) were determined by western blot. (E) The protein levels of Col2a1 were determined by immunofluorescent staining. Scale bars, 20 μm. (F and G) Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometric analysis (F), and the results of flow cytometric analysis are presented as percentages of positive mean values ± SD. (H) Cell proliferation in vitro was determined by CCK8 assay. *p < 0.01, compared with IL-1β group; ^#p < 0.01, compared with si-circRNA group.