Research Article

Rapamycin-Induced Autophagy Promotes the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Synovium-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Temporomandibular Joint in Response to IL-1β

Figure 5

Rapamycin enhances the chondrogenesis of SMSCs. (a) Relative levels of SOX9, ACAN, and MMP13 mRNA in each group in response to chondrogenic induction for 2 weeks as detected by qRT-PCR ( indicates , # indicates ). (b) Alcian blue staining and collagen II- and SOX9-positive immunostained cells in the cartilage pellet of each group (scale ) ( indicates ).
(a)
(b)