Kartogenin Improves Osteogenesis of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Autophagy

Figure 2

Autophagy is involved in the process of KGN-induced BMMSC osteogenesis. (a) The ultrastructural features of autophagic vacuoles by TEM. Black arrows suggest autophagosomes or autophagolysosomes in BMMSCs. Scale  nm. Detection of LC3 (red) and DAPI (blue) by immunofluorescent staining (b) in the control and KGN-treated BMMSCs and semiquantification analysis (c). KGN upregulated the expression of autophagic marker LC3. Scale  μm. , independent Student’s test. (d) The effects of KGN on autophagy-associated markers were evaluated by western blotting, (e, f) semiquantification of (d), and qRT-PCR of autophagy markers (g–j). KGN promoted the expression of ATG7 and downregulated the LC3-I/LC3-II ratio. and , independent Student’s test. (k) The effects of inhibitor 3-MA on autophagy-associated markers were evaluated by western blotting. (l, m) Semiquantification of (k). 3-MA inhibited the expression of ATG7 and upregulated the LC3-I/LC3-II ratio. , independent Student’s test.

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