Figure 3

Effects of G141 on mRNA levels of MMP-13, ADAMTS-5, type II collagen and aggrecan and on MMP-13, p-JNK, p-ERK1/2 and p-p38 protein levels in IL-1β treated human articular chondrocytes.

Human articular chondrocytes were treated with G141 (5 μM, 10 μM) for 1 hour, followed by treatment with IL-1β (20 ng/ml) for 24 hours. (A) Total RNA were isolated and levels of mRNA of the catabolic markers (MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5) and articular chondrocyte markers (type II collagen and aggrecan) were detected by Real-time qPCR. (Values are the mean ± SEM. n = 3, ^**p < 0.01 versus controls, ^***p < 0.001 versus controls, ^#p < 0.05 versus IL-1β alone, ^##p < 0.01 versus IL-1β alone, ^###p < 0.001 versus IL-1β alone). (B) Cell lysates were analyzed by Western blotting using antibodies specific for MMP-13, phosphorylated and total JNK, ERK1/2 and p38. The signal intensities of MMP-13 were quantitatively analyzed (Values are the mean ± SEM, n = 3, ^***p < 0.001 versus controls, ^###p < 0.001 versus IL-1β alone).