FIGURE 5.

Bmal1 is involved in EGCG-mediated prevention of ECM degradation in NPCs under oxidative stress conditions. Rat NPCs were transfected with si-Bmal1 or si-ctrl for 48 h, followed by pretreatment with or without 20 μM EGCG for 4 h and with H₂O₂ for an additional 24 h (A) mRNA and (B,C) protein levels of Bmal1. (D) mRNA levels of Collagen II, Aggrecan, MMP13, and ADAMTS5. (E) The expression levels of Bmal1, Collagen II, Aggrecan, MMP13, and ADAMTS5 were examined in rat NPCs using western blot. (F) Findings of densitometric analysis of the blots are shown. (G) Immunofluorescence of Collagen II and MMP13 in NPCs. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 3). ^* p < 0.05, ^** p < 0.01.