Fig. 5
Overexpression of miR-127-5p promoted chondrogenic differentiation of rMSCs by regulating GREM2-mediated SMAD-dependent BMP signaling. The rMSCs were transfected with miR-127-5p mimics, followed by hypoxia intervention (1% O2) and induction of chondrogenic differentiation for 14 days. A MiR-127-5p and GREM2 expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation of data obtained from three independent experiments. ***p < 0.001, compared with control; ###p < 0.001, compared with induction group; p < 0.001, compared with hypoxia/induction; B Images from Alcian blue staining assays of rMSCs. C Levels of COL1A1, COL2A1, SOX9, and ACAN protein expression were detected in rMSCs. D Levels of GREM2, BMP2, p-SMAD1, and p-SMAD2 protein expression in rMSCs were detected by western blotting. E GREM2 protein expression in rMSCs was detected by immunofluorescence