Fig. 5: AQP1 and ANKH reverse the effects of miR-328-3p on chondrocyte viability, chondrocyte apoptosis, and ECM degradation.

a A CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the viability of chondrocytes transfected with Mimic NC + Vector, miR-328-3p mimic + Vector, miR-328-3p mimic + AQP1, or miR-328-3p mimic + ANKH. b, c The apoptosis rates (b) and the expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins (c) were evaluated in chondrocytes after transfection with Mimic NC + Vector, miR-328-3p mimic + Vector, miR-328-3p mimic + AQP1, or miR-328-3p mimic + ANKH. d The expression levels of ECM proteins (Aggrecan and COL2A1) and cartilage-degrading enzymes (MMP13 and ADAMTS-5) were analyzed by western blotting in chondrocytes after transfection with Mimic NC + Vector, miR-328-3p mimic + Vector, miR-328-3p mimic + AQP1, or miR-328-3p mimic + ANKH. e A CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the viability of chondrocytes transfected with Inhibitor NC + siNC, miR-328-3p inhibitor + siNC, miR-328-3p inhibitor + siAQP1, or miR-328-3p inhibitor + siANKH. f, g The apoptosis rates (f) and the expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins (g) were evaluated in chondrocytes after transfection with Inhibitor NC + siNC, miR-328-3p inhibitor + siNC, miR-328-3p inhibitor + siAQP1, or miR-328-3p inhibitor + siANKH. h The expression levels of ECM proteins (Aggrecan and COL2A1) and cartilage-degrading enzymes (MMP13 and ADAMTS-5) were analyzed by western blotting in chondrocytes after transfection with Inhibitor NC + siNC, miR-328-3p inhibitor + siNC, miR-328-3p inhibitor + siAQP1, or miR-328-3p inhibitor + siANKH. The data are presented as the means ± SDs. Statistical differences were determined using two-way ANOVA (a, e) or unpaired two-tailed Student’s t test (b, f). ^*P < 0.05; ^**P < 0.01; ^***P < 0.001.