Figure 4

Effects of cyclopamine on mRNA levels of Hh signal, COII and aggrecan in AIA articular chondrocytes in vitro . (A) Identification of cultured articular chondrocytes. (a) Morphology of chondrocytes after one passage (×100). (b) Positive immunocytochemical staining of COII (×100); (c) Positive toluidine blue staining of glycosaminoglycan (×100). (B) Cyclopamine (10 μM) decreased Shh, Ptch1, Smo and Gli1 mRNA levels, while increased COII and aggrecan mRNA levels in cultured AIA articular chondrocytes, detected by real-time Q-PCR. Sham and AIA chondrocytes were alone cultured in DMEM added 10% FBS. Data are mean ± SEM (n = 6). ^* p < 0.05, ^** p < 0.01 compared with sham chondrocytes. ^# p < 0.05, ^## p < 0.01 compared with AIA chondrocytes.