Fat mass and obesity-associated protein in mesenchymal stem cells inhibits osteoclastogenesis via lnc NORAD/miR-4284 axis in ankylosing spondylitis

Figure 2 Fat mass and obesity-associated positively regulates the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to inhibit osteoclast formation. CD14⁺ monocytes were cultured with mesenchymal stem cells from healthy donors or mesenchymal stem cells from individuals with ankylosing spondylitis after knocking down fat mass and obesity-associated in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand. A: Representative images of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining (× 100); B: Quantitative data of TRAP⁺ osteoclasts number in each well is shown; C: Representative images of F-actin assays (× 200); D: Western blot analysis was performed to detect protein levels of TRAP, nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) and cathepsin K (CTSK); E: Quantitative data for NFATc1, TRAP, and CTSK protein levels determined by western blot analyses are shown; F: Representative images of TRAP staining (× 100) and F-actin assays (× 200); G: Quantitative data of TRAP⁺ osteoclasts number in each well is shown; H: Western blot analysis was performed to detect protein levels of NFATc1, TRAP, and CTSK. The statistical data are presented as the means ± SDs; n = 3 in each group. NS: No significant difference, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.005, ^dP < 0.001. AS: Ankylosing spondylitis; HD: Healthy donors; si-NC: Small interfering RNA of negative control; si-FTO: Small interfering RNA targeting fat mass and obesity-associated; OE-NC: Overexpression of negative control; OE-FTO: Overexpression of fat mass and obesity-associated; TRAP: Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase; NFATc1: Nuclear factor of activated T cells 1; CTSK: Cathepsin K.