Fig. 6

MiR-24-3p directly targeted CTSB. A Schematic representation of the complementarity of the 3’ UTR of CTSB to the seed sequence of miR-24-3p. B–D The binding of CTSB to miR-24-3p was validated by dual-luciferase reporter, RIP, and RNA pull-down assays. E RT-qPCR detection of the mRNA level of CTSB in articular cartilages from OA patients and normal controls. F Pearson’s correlation coefficient evaluation of the correlation between CTSB mRNA and miR-24-3p expression levels in OA patient-derived articular cartilages. G and H WB assessment of the protein level of CTSB in articular cartilages from OA patients and normal controls, as well as CHON-001 cells treated with different doses of IL-1β. I WB analysis of CTSB protein levels in CHON-001 cells with or without IL-1β stimulation, as well as IL-1β-stimulated CHON-001 cells transfected with miR-NC, miR-24-3p anti-miR-NC, or anti-miR-24-3p. J WB analysis of CTSB protein levels in CHON-001 cells with or without IL-1β stimulation, as well as IL-1β-stimulated CHON-001 cells transfected with si-NC, si-circ_0020014, si-circ_0020014+anti-miR-NC, or si-circ_0020014+anti-miR-24-3p. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001