Autophagy Is a Protective Response to the Oxidative Damage to Endplate Chondrocytes in Intervertebral Disc: Implications for the Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Disc

Figure 3

H₂O₂ stimulates autophagy in endplate chondrocytes. (a) The expression of LC3B-II in endplate chondrocytes was quantified by western blot after being stimulated by H₂O₂ for different times (). (b) Immunofluorescence assay for the expression of LC3B. Endplate chondrocytes were stained with LC3B after being exposed to H₂O or H₂O₂ (200 μM) for 2 h (). (c) GFP-LC3B in endplate chondrocytes was observed and quantified under a fluorescence microscope after treatment with or without 200 μM H₂O₂ for 2 h (). (d) Autophagic vacuoles within endplate chondrocytes was labeled by MDC and detected by an fluorescence microscope after being exposure to 200 μM H₂O or H₂O₂ for 2 h. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (; ).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)