Fig. 2. Cardamonin reversed the interleukin (IL)-1β-induced expression of collagen-related factors and activation of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in chondrocytes.
(A and B) Representative images of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-13 and Collagen II (A) as well as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO-1), NLRP3, Caspase 1 and ASC (B) protein expression detected by western blot after treatment of IL-1β and cardamonin. β-Actin was used as a loading control. (C and D) MMP-3, MMP-13 and Collagen II (C) as well as Nrf2, NQO-1, NLRP3, Caspase 1 and ASC (D) protein expression was detected by western blot after treatment of IL-1β and cardamonin. β-Actin was used as a loading control. ^^^p < 0.001 vs. Control group; ***p < 0.001 vs. IL-1β group; **p < 0.01 vs. IL-1β group; *p < 0.05 vs. IL-1β group. All experiments were repeated independently at least three times. Data were performed as the means ± SD.