Fig. 7.

Vegfa knockdown increased the proliferation and ECM anabolism of PMCs. A PMCs were transfected with Vegfa siRNA or negative control siRNA at a final concentration of 20 nM. After 48 h of transfection, the expression level of Vegfa was measured by RT-qPCR and normalized to Gapdh level. n = 3, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. B, C PMCs were transfected with Vegfa#3 siRNA (si-Vegfa) or negative control siRNA (si-NC) at a final concentration of 20 nM. After 48 h of transfection, the proliferation of PMCs was assessed using EdU assay. n = 3, ****p < 0.0001, scale bar = 100 μm. D–F PMCs were transfected with si-Vegfa or si-NC at a final concentration of 20 nM. After 48 h, protein levels of Mmp13 and Col2a1 as well as the mRNA expression levels of Mmp13, Adamts4, Col2a1 and Aggrecan were detected by western blotting or RT-qPCR analysis in PMCs. n = 3, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001