Fig. 4

Topical application of curcumin nanoparticles on the mouse knee is localized in the infrapatellar fat pad and suppresses adipokine and adipogenesis-related gene expression. H&E staining and confocal microscopy of the infrapatellar fat pad of mouse knee joints treated with topical nano-encapsulated curcumin (Nano-C). Representative histologic images are shown (a). Relative mRNA expression of adipokines, adipogenesis-related transcription regulators, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-13), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS5) in the infrapatellar fat pad of curcumin nanoparticles-treated mice vs vehicle controls (b). Adp Adiponectin, Pparg peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, Cebpa CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, Veh vehicle. *P < 0.05, t test, n = 3/group. Scale bar = 50 μm