Fig. 1

LPCAT3 expression was upregulated in human and mouse OA articular cartilage. A, B, C, D, E The mRNA expression levels of LPCAT3, MMP3, COL2A1, ADAMTS5, and IL-1β in non-involved (intact) and involved (damaged) regions of articular cartilage from OA patients (n = 14) were determined by qRT-PCR. Data are expressed as mean ± s.d. **p < 0.001 by Student’s two-tailed t-test. F Representative images of immunohistochemistry staining of LPCAT3 in intact and damaged regions of articular cartilage from human OA patients (n = 14). The % positive area of LPCAT3 in immunohistochemistry sections was quantified by Image J analysis (right). Data are expressed as mean ± s.d. ***p < 0.001 by Student’s two-tailed t-test. G The ICRS score corresponding to the images was evaluated. H The immunohistochemical staining (IHC) of articular cartilage sections with LPCAT3 and Safranin-O staining of sham-operated (n = 8) or DMM-induced OA (n = 8) mice (Scale bar- 50 µM). The % positive area of LPCAT3 in immunohistochemistry sections was quantified by Image J analysis (right). I The corresponding OARSI scores were evaluated. J, K, L The expression of LPCAT3, MMP3, and IL-1β were analyzed in mouse knee cartilage tissues by qRT-PCR. Data are expressed as mean ± s.d. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 by Student’s two-tailed t-test