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. 2020 Jul 30;15(7):e0236891. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236891

Fig 6. STAT3 is a negative regulator of the expression of cathepsin K.

Fig 6

RAW264.7 pre-osteoclastic cells were transfected with Stat3 siRNA and stimulated with RANKL. A) The expression of STAT3 and cathepsin K transcripts was determined by qPCR. Stat3 mRNA was significantly reduced by Stat3 siRNA. Cathepsin K mRNA was increased by RANKL stimulation by seven fold and further significantly increased by Stat3 siRNA knock down in the RAW264.7 cell by two fold. B) Western blot analysis of proteins expressed in differentiated osteoclasts. After 24 hour siRNA-Stat3 treatment, phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) was noticeably reduced by Stat3 siRNA. Cathepsin K, NFATc1 and c-fos were markedly increased in response to RANKL treatment. However, only the expression of cathepsin K was further increased in cells treated with both RANKL and Stat3 siRNA knock down. Three independent cell experiments were carried out. ** p < 0.001.