Fig. 5

Upregulation of CASP3 reversed the effects of miR-98-5p on IL-1β-induced inflammatory, apoptosis and ECM degradation in chondrocytes. The mRNA (A) and protein (B) levels of CASP3 were analyzed in CHON-001 cells transfected with CASP3 overexpression plasmid or empty vector, followed by 24 h treatment with IL-1β. ***p < 0.001 indicates CASP3 versus Vector; C–E Proinflammatory cytokines, F cell viability, G caspase-3 activity, and H protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, COL2A1, MMP-13 and β-catenin were detected in CHON-001 cells co-transfected with miR-98-5p mimics and CASP3, followed by 24 h treatment with IL-1β. All data are shown as means ± SD of three independent experiments. **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001 indicate miR-98-5p mimics + Vector versus miR-NC + Vector; ##p < 0.01 and ###p < 0.001 indicate miR-98-5p mimics + CASP3 versus miR-98-5p mimics + Vector