Skip to main content
. 2022 Apr 12;2022:3156245. doi: 10.1155/2022/3156245

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Kindlin-2-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in chondrocytes is essential for chondrogenesis. (a–c) In the direct contact coculture system, knockdown of Kindlin-2 or inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in chondrocytes reduced cartilage matrix formation, as observed by Alcian blue staining and safranin O staining (a). Quantitative evaluation of Alcian blue staining results (b) and safranin O staining results (c) on day 7 was performed. Chondrocytes without coculture were used as the Con group. Values are expressed as mean ± s.d., ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ns indicates no significance. (d) mRNA expression levels of cartilage-specific genes (Col2, Sox-9, and Aggrecan) in chondrocytes on day 7 were detected by qPCR in different groups. 18S was used as an internal control. Values are expressed as mean ± s.d., ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ns indicates no significance. (e–g) Inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in Kindlin-2 OE chondrocytes in the direct contact coculture system decreased cartilage matrix formation, as observed by Alcian blue staining and safranin O staining (e). Quantitative evaluation of Alcian blue staining results (f) and safranin O staining results (g) on day 7 was performed. Values are expressed as mean ± s.d., ∗∗∗p < 0.001. (h) mRNA expression levels of cartilage-specific genes (Col2, Sox-9, and Aggrecan) in chondrocytes on day 7 were detected by qPCR in different groups. 18S was used as an internal control. Values are expressed as mean ± s.d., ∗∗∗p < 0.001. (i) Schematic of the functional consequences and specific mechanism of chondrocytes cocultured with BMSCs in the direct contact coculture system.