Fig. 4

RNPs alleviate IL-1β-induced metabolic homeostatic imbalance in chondrocytes. The expression levels of the catabolic marker Mmp13 (A) and the cartilage-specific marker Col2a1 (B) in primary articular chondrocytes, which were induced with IL-1β, except the Ctrl group, the other groups were treated with IL-1β for 24 h. (C-G) The expression of proteins (Col II, SOX9, MMP13 and p-S6) in primary articular chondrocytes, which were induced with IL-1β for 24 h. Toluidine blue (H) and Alcian blue (I) staining of primary articular chondrocytes, encapsulated in hydrogels and induced with IL-1β for 24 h, Scale Bar 200 μm. n = 3. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc analysis. Data are presented as means ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001