Icariin Prevents H₂O₂-Induced Apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt Pathway in Rat Nucleus Pulposus Intervertebral Disc Cells

Figure 3

The sectionalization: (A) blank control. (B) 200 μM H₂O₂. (C) 200 μM H₂O₂ + 20 μM icariin (Ica). (D) 200 μM H₂O₂ + 20 μM Ica. (E) 200 μM H₂O₂ + 20 μM Ica + 25 μM LY294002. (a) Flow cytometry detection and fluorescence microscope observations: the intracellular ROS dye of group (B) rises. In group (C), there were fewer intracellular ROS than in group (B). However, in groups (D) and (E), intracellular ROS dye increased. (b) ROS rate: the ROS rate of H₂O₂ group increased significantly and the cytotoxicity of H₂O₂ is weakened by icariin ( versus control group; versus H₂O₂ group). In addition, the lock of PI3/AKT pathway made a dent in the protection effect of icariin ( versus group (C)). Group (E) showed the highest ROS levels among all groups, which indicates LY294002 acts synergistically to H₂O₂ in elevating intracellular ROS ( versus group (B)).

(a)

(b)