Fig. 5: str-ZPM Gel maintains ECM homeostasis by promoting BMSCs chondrogenic differentiation and suppressing catabolism. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: str-ZPM Gel maintains ECM homeostasis by promoting BMSCs chondrogenic differentiation and suppressing catabolism.

From: Streamlined metal-based hydrogel facilitates stem cell differentiation, extracellular matrix homeostasis and cartilage repair in male rats

Fig. 5

a qRT-PCR analysis of gene expression of SOX9, COL2A1, Aggrecan, MMP13, and ADAMTS5 for 7 days and 21 days. b WB analysis of protein levels of MMP13, ADAMTS5, SOX9, Aggrecan, and COL2A1 in normal and IL-1β-treated BMSCs cultured with hydrogels for 7 days. c Related quantitative analysis of protein expression levels. d Diagram of the mechanism of chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. e WB analysis of protein levels of Ihh and PTHrP in normal and cyclopamine-treated BMSCs cultured with hydrogels for 7 days. f Related quantitative analysis of Ihh and PTHrP expression levels. g WB analysis of anabolic-related protein levels in normal and cyclopamine-treated BMSCs cultured with hydrogels for 7 days. h Quantitative analysis of the expression levels of anabolic-related proteins. i Differentially expressed mRNA in miR, and str-ZPM Gel groups (Q values <0.05, |log2(fold change)| >2). j Heatmap showing the hierarchical clustering of the differentially expressed genes in miR and str-ZPM Gel groups. k GO enrichment bar plots of str-ZPM Gel and miR groups. l KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the identified DEGs of the str-ZPM Gel groups vs the miR groups. Blots are representative of three independent experiments in b, e, and g. Data were presented as the mean ± SD (n = 3 independent experiments). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001. Statistical comparisons were performed using the unpaired two-sided Student’s t-test in c, f, and h. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Back to article page