Fig 2: Silencing of POLDIP2 attenuates the inhibitory effect of oe-ZEB1 on the differentiation of macrophages RAW264.7 to osteoclasts. RAW264.7 cells were infected with sh-NC, sh-POLDIP2, sh-NC + oe-NC, sh-NC + oe-ZEB1, sh-POLDIP2 + oe-NC or sh-POLDIP2 + oe-ZEB1. A mRNA expression of POLDIP2 and ZEB1 in cells after infection by RT-qPCR. B Detection of protein expression of OPG, NFATC and CTSK in cells after infection by Western blot analysis. C The protein expression of MMP9, c-Fos and Acp5 in cells after infection detected by Western blot analysis. All data are represented as mean ± SD. Each experiment was performed three times independently. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Differences are tested using two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test

Fig 3: ZEB1 supports osteoblast differentiation and restrains osteoclast differentiation. A Detection of mRNA expression of ZEB1 in bone tissues of rats in response to oe-NC or oe-ZEB1 by RT-qPCR. B Detection of protein expression of ALP, OPN and RUNX2 in bone tissues of rats by Western blot. C Immunohistochemical detection of OPG expression in bone tissues of rats. D Detection of mRNA expression of NFATC and CTSK in bone tissues of rats by RT-qPCR. E Immunohistochemical detection of TRAP expression in bone tissues of rats. F Assessment of bone content and structural changes in rat bone tissue by HE staining where bone trabeculae were labeled with red arrows and bone mass was labeled with green arrows. All data are represented as mean ± SD (n = 6 for rats in each group). Each experiment was performed three times independently. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. Differences are tested using two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test (B, D) and unpaired t-test (A, C, E)