Figure 4.

miR-29b activates the AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway by downregulating PTEN expression. hADSCs were transfected with agomir-29b and agomir NC, following the induction of osteogenic differentiation. (A) Western blot analysis was used to assess the protein expression levels of PTEN, phospho-AKT, AKT, phospho-GSK-3β, GSK-3β, phospho-β-catenin and β-catenin. β-actin was used as an internal control. (B) The bands were semi-quantitatively analyzed using ImageJ software, normalized to β-actin density. Data represent the means ± SD of 3 independent experiments. ^**P< 0.01 vs. bM group, ^##P< 0.01 vs. agomir NC group. PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog; hADSC, human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cell; GSK-3β, glycogen synthase kinase 3β.