Fig. 5. ß-Catenin function as a cytoskeletal component is not necessary for phenotype modulation of chondrocytes. (A) Rabbit articular chondrocytes were treated with the indicated concentrations of RA or IL1ß for 72 hours. Expression of N-cadherin and -catenin was determined by western blotting (top). Chondrocytes were untreated (Con) or treated with 1 µM RA or 5 ng/ml IL1ß for 72 hours. N-cadherin was detected by western blotting from the samples precipitated with ß-catenin immuncomplex. Alternatively, N-cadherin was immunoprecipitated and ß-catenin was detected by western blot analysis (bottom). (B,C) Chondrocytes were treated with vehicle alone as a control, RA or IL1ß. ß-Catenin in Triton X-100 insoluble fraction was detected by western blotting (B) or indirect immunofluorescence microscopy (C). (D) Chondrocytes were untreated or treated with RA or IL1ß. The cells were fixed and immunostained for F-actin with palloidin-rhodamine and analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy.

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