Antiaging Factor Klotho Retards the Progress of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration through the Toll-Like Receptor 4-NF-κB Pathway

Figure 5

Functional role of Klotho in degenerative intervertebral disc. Rats injected with either siRNA-control or siRNA Klotho were treated with or without needle puncture for 2 weeks. (a) Representative photomicrographs of H&E-stained intervertebral disc sections ( in each group). Typical histologic appearance of the AF and NP from normal and degenerated discs induced by percutaneous needle puncture. Scale bar, 20 μm (original magnification ×40). (b) Expressions of Klotho, TLR4, p-IκBα, and IκBα were assayed by Western blotting (two randomly selected samples from each group were shown). (c) mRNA levels of IL-1β, NOS2, and IL-18 from rats were assayed by qRT-PCR and quantified as fold changes ( in each group). Data were presented as . vs. sham in siR-control group; vs. sham in siRNA Klotho group; vs. IDD in siRNA-control group.

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