Figure 4.

Effects of the IL-1β and IL-17A combination on the remaining chondrocytes and matrix molecules in long-term porcine cartilage explant culture. The explants were cultured for 28 days under conditions in which they were stimulated by the combined cytokines (Cyts; 2 ng/mL of IL-1β in combination with 4 ng/mL of IL-17A) with or without diacerein (Dia; 50 µM). The untreated explants were left as a control (Ctrl). The cartilages were stained with H&E and safranin O dyes for an observation of chondrocytes and matrix molecules (A). Viable cells were counted on H&E-stained slides, and the intensities of safranin O were calculated on safranin O-stained slides (B). Papain-digested cartilages were analyzed using the remaining of UA and collagen (C). Data are expressed as mean ± SD of three independent experiments. * = p < 0.05 and ** = p < 0.001.