Fig. 5

Inhibiting ERK signaling pathway with U0126 reversed the enhancing effect of HSPB7 knockdown on osteogenesis of hASCs. a U0126 reduced the level of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in shNC and shHSPB7 hASCs. b The quantitative results of a by Image J software. c ALP staining at day 7 of osteogenic differentiation. U0126 (10 μM) or DMSO was incubated for 7 days. d Histogram shows the 7-day quantification of ALP activity. e ARS staining in shNC, shHSPB7 groups treated with U0126 (10 μM) or DMSO (control) for 14 days. f Relative quantitative analysis of ARS staining. g–i Relative mRNA expression of RUNX2, ALP, and OCN at day 14 of osteogenic differentiation in the presence or absence of U0126 (10 μM). DMSO was used as a control. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, compared with shNC)