High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress Mediates Apoptosis and Extracellular Matrix Metabolic Imbalances Possibly via p38 MAPK Activation in Rat Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Figure 4

Representative RT-PCR and histogram showing the expression of mRNA in nucleus pulposus cells treated with high glucose (HG, 25 mM). The levels of type II collagen (collagen-2), aggrecan, SRY-related high-mobility-group box 9 (Sox-9), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression were quantified in the absence or presence of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or SB 202190 (SB). Values are expressed as means ± SEM. versus control; versus HG group.