Fig. 2

Expressions of laminin β1 in chondrocytes in response to PDMS substrates with different stiffnesses. a RNA sequencing indicating the basal gene expression levels of laminin beta family in chondrocytes. Their expressions were all ratio to the inner β-actin gene. b qPCR showing mRNA changes of laminin β1 in chondrocytes in response to stiff and soft substrates. β-actin gene was used as the inner control. c Western blotting indicating the protein changes of laminin β1 in chondrocytes in response to stiff and soft substrates. d OD quantification confirming the protein changes of laminin β1 in chondrocytes in response to stiff and soft substrates. e Immunofluorescence by CLSM showing the expressions of laminin β1 in chondrocytes in response to stiff and soft substrates. *indicates the expressions of laminin β1 at the site of connections between the two cells. Arrows further indicate the details of laminin β1 at the site of connections between the two cells.The experiments in (a), (b), (c), & (e) are all based on three independent experiments (n = 3). The data in F are shown in the box (from 25%, 50% to 75%) and whisker (minimum to maximum values) plots. All significant data presented in (a), (b), (d), and (f) are based on two-tailed Student’s t-tests.