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

Figure 5

Icariin protects nucleus pulposus (NP) cells from H₂O₂-induced apoptosis. Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 were detected by Western blotting. Bcl-2 levels are descended in NP cells treated with H₂O₂ ( versus control group) and Bcl-2 levels are increased in NP cells treated with H₂O₂ and icariin when compared with the H₂O₂ alone group ( versus H₂O₂ group) and decreased when the PI3K/Akt pathway is blocked with LY294002 ( versus group (C)). Caspase-3 and Bax are decreased in icariin-treated cells ( versus control group). The protective effect of icariin could be impaired by the presence of LY294002 to block the PI3K/Akt pathway ( versus H₂O₂ group, versus group (C)). In addition, LY294002 alone exacerbates H₂O₂-induced damage (, versus H₂O₂ group).