Fig 5.

Effects of knockdown of HMGB1 on LPS-induced chondrocytes. Cells were transfected with siHMGB1 or siNC for 48 h and then treated with LPS for 6 h. (A) The expression of HMGB1 protein levels were detected using western blot analysis. (B and C) Cell apoptosis was detected by Flow cytometry assay and (D) caspase-3 activity assay. (E) The production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α in the cell culture supernatants was detected by ELISA. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, as compared with control; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01, ###p < 0.001, as compared with LPS+siNC