Effects of IKKα ablation on MMP-10 protein levels in human OA chondrocyte micromass cultures.

<p>MMP-10 immunostaining in 1-week differentiated pellet cultures of IKKα KD vs. matched WT (GL2 control) human OA chondrocytes. Global views of micromass sphere sections (100Xmagnification) are shown on the left; and three random fields at 400Xmagnification, which were submitted to quantitative image analysis appear to the right. Antibody stained images are shown in the right side upper rows (labeled as 1, 2 & 3), with each 400Xfield submitted to analysis by Nikon Imaging Software in the lower rows (1.1, 2.1 & 3.1). For each sample an IHC staining threshold was established based on an antibody isotype control. Antibody staining of MMP-10 is in red in conjunction with hematoxylin (blue) nuclear counterstaining. Data are representative examples of multiple sections of micromasses prepared with ACs of 3 OA patients; and results of all such experiments are presented as statistically analyzed bar graphs in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0073024#pone-0073024-g002" target="_blank">Figure 2C</a>.