Fig. 3. Expression patterns of ß-catenin during de- and redifferentiation of chondrocytes. (A) Articular chondrocytes were maintained as a serial monolayer up until the indicated passages (top) or P0 chondrocytes were treated with 1 µM retinoic acid (RA) (middle) or 5 ng/ml IL1ß (bottom) for 72 hours. Expression patterns of type II collagen and ß-catenin were determined by western blot analysis. (B) Chondrocytes were untreated or treated with IL1ß or RA or P0 chondrocytes were passed to P4 (P4). Accumulation of sulfated proteglycan was determined by Alcian Blue staining (top) and type II collagen transcript level was determined by northern blot (NB) analysis (bottom). (C) Chondrocytes were cultured as monolayer (M) to P0 or to P4. P4 cells were detached and three-dimensionally cultured for 4 days in alginate gel (Alginate). Type II collagen and ß-catenin expression was determined by western blot analysis. ERK-2 was detected as loading control of blots.

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