The cytokines, such as interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-17, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), involved in the degradation of chondrocyte in CILinc02 knockdown OA primary cells, which were treated with methylene blue that were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis.