Involvement of the G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 4 in the Increased Expression of RANK/RANKL/OPG System and Neurotrophins by Nucleus Pulposus Cells under the Degenerated Intervertebral Disc-Like Acidic Microenvironment

Figure 4

The influence of GPR4 and its downstream signaling molecules in the expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the degenerated IVD-like acidic condition. The expression levels of NGF, BDNF, and NT-3 were assayed by RT-PCR (a) and western blot (b). Data were represented as of 6 independent experiments performed in triplicate; ANOVA was used to find out differences between cells in the same pH level and Student’s t-test was used to find out differences within the same cell between pH 7.2 and 6.5. (NGF: nerve growth factor; BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; NT-3: neurotrophin-3; ; ; ; ^§; ^§§; ^§§§).

(a)

(b)