Fig. 2

WTAP knockdown promoted proliferation and ECM synthesis as well as inhibited ECM degradation and apoptosis in LPS-induced OA chondrocyte injury. Chondrocyte was infected with shWTAP or shNC, and then treated with 40 ng/mL LPS for 24 h or 48 h. A CCK-8 was applied to evaluate the viability of chondrocyte. B and D EdU staining was used to measure the proliferation of chondrocyte. C and E The apoptosis of chondrocyte was evaluated by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. F The caspase-3 activity was evaluated by caspase-3 activity kit. G Western blotting was used to assess the protein expression levels of MMP13, ADAMTS5, Aggrecan, and Collagen II in chondrocyte. OA, osteoarthritis; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; shWTAP, WTAP knockdown adenovirus; shNC, negative control corresponding to shWTAP. N = 3. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001