[Retracted] Apelin Alleviates Meniscus Endothelial Cell Apoptosis in Osteoarthritis

Figure 4

APLN alleviates apoptosis of meniscus endothelial cells isolated from OA patients by inhibiting intrinsic apoptosis genes. Meniscus endothelial cells were isolated from patients with OA and cultured in a conditioned medium. Four groups were included: the control group indicating endothelial cells cultured in conditioned medium, the second group treated with BSA, the third group treated with apelin (APLN), the fourth group was treated with apelin (APLN) and ML221 (blocking APLNR). Six wells in each group. (a) FACS charts showing apoptotic analysis of cultured meniscus endothelial cells among four groups. (b) Box blot showing statistical analysis of early apoptotic (annexin V + PI-) cells. Six wells in each group. NS: not significant; ; . Data represent three independent experiments. (c) Box plots showing the expression level of CASP3 and BID in cultured endothelial cells among the above four groups. NS: not significant; , . Data represent two independent experiments. (d) The upper histography showing the intracellular staining of cleaved caspase 3 (CASP3) in the meniscus endothelial cell subcluster EC (HOXA13) among the four groups. The lower dot plot shows statistical analysis of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) for cleaved caspase 3 among the four groups. Each dot represents a readout. NS: not significant; , . The data represent two independent experiments. (e) The upper histography shows the intracellular staining of cleavage site Bid in meniscus endothelial cells subcluster EC (RASGRF2) among four groups. The lower dot plot shows statistical analysis of MFI of cleavage site Bid among the four groups. Each dot represents one read. NS: not significant. , . Data represent two independent experiments.

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