Hyaluronic Acid Suppresses the Expression of Metalloproteinases in Osteoarthritic Cartilage Stimulated Simultaneously by Interleukin 1β and Mechanical Load - Fig 5

<p><b>(a)</b> Relative gene expression of MMP-1 in the 3 study groups: (1) 2ng/ml IL1ß + mechanical loading, (2) 2ng/ml IL1ß + mechanical loading + 1mg/ml HA, (3) 2ng/ml IL1ß + mechanical loading + 3mg/ml HA and the control; * indicates statistical significance with p<0,05; <b>(b)</b> Relative gene expression of MMP-2 in the 3 study groups: (1) 2ng/ml IL1ß + mechanical loading, (2) 2ng/ml IL1ß + mechanical loading + 1mg/ml HA, (3) 2ng/ml IL1ß mechanical loading + 3mg/ml HA and the control; * indicates statistical significance with p<0,05.</p

Photomicrographs of articular cartilage samples.

<p>(<b>a</b> and <b>b</b>) H&E stained sections of K&L2 and K&L4 cartilage samples upon stimulation with Il1ß and mechanical loading. (<b>c</b> and <b>d</b>) Safranin O stained sections of K&L2 and K&L4 cartilage samples upon stimulation with Il1ß and mechanical loading. (<b>e</b> and <b>f</b>) H&E stained sections of K&L2 and K&L4 cartilage samples upon additional administration of 1 mg/ml HA. (<b>g</b> and <b>h</b>) Safranin O sections of K&L2 and K&L4 cartilage samples upon additional administration of 1 mg/ml HA. Scale bar = 500 μm.</p