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Context: Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) exhibits anti-arthritic activity. MiR-29b-3p provokes chondrocyte apoptosis and promotes the initiation and development of osteoarthritis (OA). Objective: To explore the roles of EGCG and miR-29b-3p in interleukin-1b (IL-1b)-stimulated chondrocytes. Materials and methods: HE and Safranin O staining were used to detect the pathological changes of cartilage tissue in OA patients and healthy people. OA-like chondrocyte injury was mimicked by 5 ng/mL IL-1b stimulation for 24 h in vitro, and after transfection with miR-29b-3p mimics and pcDNA-PTEN, IL-1bstimulated chondrocytes were pre-treated with EGCG (20 and 50 lM) for 2 h. Cell viability, colony numbers, apoptosis rate, the levels of IL-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), miR-19b-3p, PTEN and apoptosis-associated proteins in chondrocytes were evaluated. Results: MiR-29b-3p level was upregulated in cartilage tissues of OA patients (3.5-fold change, p<0.001) and IL-1b stimulated chondrocytes (two fold change, p<0.001). The matrix staining was weakened and unevenly distributed, and the chondrocytes were arranged disorderly in the tissues of patients with OA. EGCG (20 and 50 lM) increases viability and decreases the levels of miR-29b-3p and MMP-13 and IL-6 in IL-1b stimulated chondrocytes (p<0.05). MiR-29b-3p mimics reversed the effects above 50 lM EGCG (p<0.05). Furthermore, PTEN overexpression abrogated the effects of miR-29b-3p mimics on viability, colony numbers, apoptosis rate and the levels of Bcl-2, MMP-13, IL-6, Bax and cleaved caspase 3 in IL-1bstimulated chondrocytes (p<0.01). Discussion and conclusions: EGCG is a potential candidate for the treatment of OA, which also can be explored in a novel therapeutic method for other degenerative or inflammatory disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]