Betulinic Acid Attenuates Osteoarthritis via Limiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation to Decrease Interleukin-1β Maturation and Secretion

Figure 5

BA postponed DMM-induced articular cartilage deterioration in mice. (a) H&E staining (thickness of HC and CC were marked by double-headed arrows), (b) Sagittal safranin O-fast green staining, and (c) Alcian blue staining of the cartilage in the right knee. (d) Quantification of articular cartilage damage by H&E staining, evaluated from the HC/CC ratio. (n = 3). (e) OARSI score-based quantification of articular cartilage damage in safranin O-fast green staining. (n = 4). (f) Quantification of the sulfated GAG chains of proteoglycans in alcian blue staining, evaluated by the OARSI score. (n = 3). , vs. Sham + Vehicle group; ^#, ^##, and ^### vs. DMM + Vehicle group; ^$ vs. DMM + Low-dose group; ns: no significance; scale bar = 100 µm.

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