Fig. 3

Systemic Transplantation of young MDSPCs Promotes a Healthy Cartilage Homeostasis in Zmpste24^−/− Progeroid Mice. Relative mRNA levels were measured by qRT-PCR from the knee articular cartilage of Zmpste24^−/− mice intraperitoneally (IP) injected with MDSPCs (Z-IP, n = 7) or PBS (Z-PBS, n = 9) and analyzed for the presence of (a) a key ageing signaling pathway mediator (Nfkb1), its inhibitor (Nfkbia), autophagy and pro-longevity markers (Foxo1 and Foxo3), and telomere protection (Pot1b), (b) antioxidant response (Gpx4), oxidative stress-response (Sod1), and growth arrest and DNA damage response (Gadd45a), (c) endocytosis and stress-induced senescence (Cav1), the cellular senescence/tumor suppressor mechanism (Cdkn2a), and the mammalian target of rapamycin (Mtor) genes. Expression values are relative to housekeeping genes, Gapdh and Hmbg1. Data are mean ± SEM. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ^#p < 0.0001, ^§p < 0.00001, ^ǂp < 0.000001, ns: not significant using two-tailed, unpaired Student’s t-test or Welch’s unequal variance t-test (a-c and e-g)