Figure 4

AM-ADSCs exhibited the highest cell viability and lowest NO production. (A) MTS assay for cell viability and (B) NO assay for NO production, mean and SD with n = 4, repeated thrice [****p < 0.0001, ***p < 0.001, *p < 0.05]. ADSCs-AM exhibited reduced catabolic and cytokine and increased TIMP gene expression. Gene expression analysis of (C) MMP-3, (D) MMP-13, (E) ADAMTS5, (F) IL-6, and (G) TIMP-1, mean and SD with n = 4, repeated twice [****p < 0.0001, ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05]. (H) Normalized Raman spectra of rat chondrocytes with different treatments. Group 1: untreated chondrocytes, Group 2: chondrocytes + 20 ng/mL IL-1β, Group 3: chondrocytes + IL-1β (20 ng/mL) + ADSCs, Group 4: chondrocytes + IL-1β (20 ng/mL) + AM (6 mg/ml), and Group 5: chondrocytes with IL-1β (20 ng/mL) and ADSCs encapsulated within AM. Peak area quantification of amide-I (I), amide III (J), phenyl alanine (K), lipid (L), mean and SD with n = 3, repeated thrice [***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05].