Fig. 2

Knockdown of CDR1as inhibited osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs. a Images of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining in the small interfering RNA negative control (si-NC), small interfering RNAs targeting CDR1as (si-CDR1as)-1, and si-CDR1as-2 groups (top row). Cells were cultured in growth medium (GM) or osteogenic medium (OM) for 7 days. Images of alizarin red S (ARS) staining for mineralized matrix in the si-NC, si-CDR1as-1, and si-CDR1as-2 groups (bottom row). Cells were cultured in GM or OM for 14 days. Histograms show ALP activity (left panel) and quantification of ARS staining (right panel) by spectrophotometry (normalized to the si-NC groups). b The efficiency of transient transduction of si-CDR1as-1 and si-CDR1as-2 (left panel) and relative mRNA expression of ALP (middle panel) and RUNX2 (right panel) measured by qRT-PCR at day 3 of osteogenic induction. GAPDH was used for normalization relative to si-NC groups. c Western blot analysis of protein expression of RUNX2 and the internal control β-ACTIN at day 3 of osteogenic induction. Histograms show the quantification of band intensities. β-ACTIN was used for normalization relative to si-NC groups. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.001. RUNX2 Runt-related transcription factor 2