Fig. 5

Overexpression of circPhf21a reversed TGF-β1 induced the proliferation and ECM anabolism of PMCs. A, B PMCs were incubated with negative control vector or TGF-β1 with or without oe-circPhf21a plasmid. After 48 h of incubation, the proliferation of PMCs was assessed using EdU assay. n = 3, ****p < 0.0001, scale bar: 100 μm. C PMCs were incubated with negative control vector or TGF-β1 with or without oe-circPhf21a. After 48 h of incubation, mRNA expression levels of Mmp13, Mmp3, Adamts4, Col2a1 and Aggrecan were detected by RT-qPCR analysis. n = 3, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. D–F PMCs were incubated with negative control vector or TGF-β1 with or without oe-circPhf21a. After 48 h of incubation, the protein levels of Col2a1 and Mmp13 in PMCs were detected by western blotting. n = 3, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001