Fig. 3

The protective effect of ASP on chondrocyte apoptosis. Chondrocytes were pretreated with ASP for 4 h then stimulated with SNP (1 mg/ml) for 24 h. a, b NC: chondrocytes were cultured in medium without AA for 24 h. SNP: chondrocytes were treated with 1 mg/ml SNP for 24 h. SNP+50ASP/SNP+200ASP: chondrocytes were pretreated with different concentrations of ASP (50 μg/ml, 00 μg/ml) for 4 h then incubated with SNP for 24 h. Chondrocyte apoptosis was detected by DAPI staining and flow cytometry assays (quantified in c and d). e The level of Bcl2 and Bax was measured by western blot (quantified in f and g). The results are presented as the means ± SD of three independent experiments (n = 3). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ^#p < 0.0001, and statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA