miRNA inhibition induces the expression of Col2a1 altered by HP. (A–D) Expression levels of Col2a1 analyzed by real-time PCR. Human OA chondrocytes were evaluated at basal condition, after 24~h of transfection with miR-34a, miR-146a, and miR-181a inhibitors (50 nM) or NC (5 nM), and after 3~h of low sinusoidal (1–5 MPa) or static continuous (10 MPa) HP exposure. The gene expression was referenced to the ratio of the value of interest and the value of basal condition or NC, reported equal to 1. Data were expressed as mean ± SD of triplicate values. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 versus basal condition or NC. ° p < 0.05 versus inhibitor. # p < 0.05 versus HP. INIB = Inhibitor, NC = negative control siRNA.