Fig. 6

The c-MYC inhibitor 10058-F4 inhibits cholesterol metabolism, which inhibits the cell cycle. Flow cell cycle tests confirmed that 10058-F4 significantly decreased the number of chondrocytes in the S phase. A The cell group of chondrocytes was untreated. B The c-MYC inhibitor 10058-F4 significantly increased the number of cells in the G1 phase and decreased the number of cells in the S phase. C BIG increased the number of chondrocytes in phase S, while the number of cells in phase G1 was significantly decreased. D BIG ameliorated the reduced number of cells in phase S caused by 10058-F4, thereby increasing the number of cells in phase S. E Bar graph of the proportion of cells in the cell cycle in the four groups. F Bar graph of the proportion of cells in phase S. G–J The c-MYC inhibitor 10058-F4 caused upregulation of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and AGEs. K, L 10058-F4 inhibited cholesterol metabolism; however, BIG promoted cholesterol metabolism to reduce the concentrations of TC and FC. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 3) and were analysed by the Kruskal‒Wallis test, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001