RNA interference-mediated osteoprotegerin silencing increases the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio and promotes osteoclastogenesis

Figure 4 Protein levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand and osteoprotegerin in each group. A and B: The western blot results of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) protein expression at different time points (3^rd, 7^th, 14^th, and 21^st days) after transfection with shScr or shOPG (A) and their quantitative analysis (B). The experimental group, “shOPG”, represents OPG gene-silenced bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transfected with shOPG, while the control groups, “shScr” and “control”, represent BMSCs transfected with a scramble vector and untreated BMSCs, respectively. The data represent results from three independent experiments. Changes in RANKL and OPG protein levels in shOPG-transfected BMSCs were observed compared to the shScr and control groups (mean ± SEM, n = 3 experiments). ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01. BMSC: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell; OPG: Osteoprotegerin; RANKL: Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand.