Research Article

Promoting Nrf2/Sirt3-Dependent Mitophagy Suppresses Apoptosis in Nucleus Pulposus Cells and Protects against Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Figure 1

Decreased expression of NRF2 in human and rat NPCs in IVDD as well as effect of t-BHQ on NPC viability. (a) Representative MRI images of three different degrees of IVDD patients. (b, c) The expression of Nrf2 from NP cells of different degrees of IVDD patients was analyzed by western blot. (d) Immunofluorescence staining of Nrf2 in the disc of control and IVDD rat tail. (e) Chemical structure of t-BHQ. (f) The cytotoxic effect of t-BHQ on NPCs was measured at various concentrations for 24 h through using the CCK-8 assay. (g) The effect of t-BHQ against cell damage induced by TBHP in NPCs. All experiments were performed three times in duplicate, and data are reported as the . ns, , and .
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