Figure 6.

Quantitative analysis of MMP-1/-3/-9 and ADAMTS-5 concentration in chondrocyte monocultures and co-cultures with different CD4⁺ mononuclear cell subtypes is displayed. Chondrocytes harvested from tibial plateau of patients with advanced knee OA were isolated. A population of CD4⁺CD127^dim/--enriched PBMC and two subpopulations consisting of CD4⁺CD25^-CD127^dim/--enriched PBMC (Treg-depleted enriched PBMC) and CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^dim/- Treg were isolated from heparin anti-coagulate peripheral blood using Ficoll-PlaqueTM and magnetic activated cell sorting. Chondrocytes monocultures and co-cultures were incubated for 48 h at 37 °C and then enzyme concentrations in culture supernatants were analyzed performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The mean and standard deviation of enzyme concentrations of MMP-1/-3/-9 and ADAMTS-5 are plotted (n = 8). Significant differences are indicated by asterisks: * p < 0.05.