Chondroprotective Effect of Cynaroside in IL-1β-Induced Primary Rat Chondrocytes and Organ Explants via NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Inhibition

Figure 3

Inhibitory effect of cynaroside on IL-1β-induced MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-4 in primary rat chondrocytes. Cells were pretreated with cynaroside (40, 80, and 160 μM) for 1 h, followed by IL-1β (10 ng/mL) stimulation for 24 h. (a) Protein levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-4 were determined using western blot analysis. α-Tubulin served as an internal control. (b) Quantitative data of (a) were analyzed using ImageJ software. (c) Activity of MMPs was measured in conditioned medium using casein zymography. ^## compared with the control group; , , and compared with the IL-1β-treated group. CON: control; MMP: matrix metalloproteinase; ADAMTS-4: a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4.

(a)

(b)

(c)