Objective　The　aim　of　this　study　was　to　examine　differences　in　microRNA-497　(miR-497)　expression　during　cartilage　tissue　formation　and　to　test　whether　miR-497　directly　interferes　with　Indian　hedgehog　(IHH)　gene　and　inhibits　IHH　expression　in　human　chondrocytes.　Design　At　different　cartilage　development　stages　and　different　time　points　in　bone　matrix　gelatin-induced　endochondral　ossification　(BMG-ECO)　rat　models,　the　expression　of　miR-497　and　the　Ihh　gene　was　monitored　at　the　mRNA　level.　Bioinformatic　analysis,　gene　mutation,　dual　luciferase　reporter　gene　assays　and　gene　expression　assays　at　both　the　mRNA　and　protein　levels　in　human　chondrocytes　were　subsequently　performed　to　validate　the　interaction　between　miR-497　and　the　IHH　gene.　Results　The　mRNA　expression　of　miR-497　or　the　Ihh　gene　in　BMG-ECO　rats　showed　significant　differences　between　the　cartilage　development　stages　and　between　different　time　points,　and　the　trends　in　the　expression　of　miR-497　and　Ihh　were　reversed.　Bioinformatic　and　dual　luciferase　reporter　gene　assays　demonstrated　a　direct　interaction　between　miR-497　and　the　IHH　gene.　Differential　mRNA　and　protein　expression　profiles　of　the　IHH　gene　in　human　chondrocytes　after　48　hours　of　transfection　with　miR-497　mimics　and　a　negative　control　indicated　that　miR-497　inhibited　IHH　expression.　Conclusion　Our　study　provided　new　clues　for　further　functional　and　molecular　mechanism　studies　of　miR-497　in　chondrogenesis　and　demonstrated　a　potential　target　for　clinical　therapy　for　cartilage　degenerative　disease.