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Fig. 5 | Arthritis Research & Therapy

Fig. 5

From: Targeted designed variants of alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) attenuate cartilage degeneration in a rat model of osteoarthritis induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection

Fig. 5

Matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) (a), type X collagen (b), and type II degraded products staining (c) were elevated in rats that underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and PBS treatment, but was lower in the alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and A2M-variants-treated and sham-operated rats, which is consistent with reduced osteoarthritis damage in these rats. In contrast, type II collagen expression in articular cartilage was higher in the A2M and A2M-variants-treated and sham-operated rats than in rats that underwent ACLT and PBS treatment (d). The bottom panels are higher-magnification views of the boxed areas in the top panels. ELISA further confirmed that A2M and its variants partially inhibit MMP-13 (e). In A2M and A2M-variants-treated rats, the concentration of MMP-13 in SF was lower than that in the rats that underwent ACLT and PBS treatment but it was still higher than that in in sham-operated rats. Values are the mean ± SD. #Compared with ACLT + PBS, P < 0.05; *compared with sham, P < 0.05; &compared with ACLT + A2M, P < 0.05; compared with ACLT + 108-2-L, P < 0.05

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