GDF-11 Protects the Traumatically Injured Spinal Cord by Suppressing Pyroptosis and Necroptosis via TFE3-Mediated Autophagy Augmentation

Figure 4

GDF-11 enhances autophagy following spinal cord injury. (a) Immunofluorescence staining for p62 and NeuN colocalization at the spinal cord lesion following spinal cord injury (scale ). (b) The quantitative mean optical density of p62 in neurons of spinal cord lesions in the respective groups. (c) Staining based on immunofluorescence in terms of the colocalization of NeuN and LC3II within spinal cord lesions following spinal cord injury (scale ). (d) The percentage of LC3II-positive neurons in neurons of spinal cord lesions in the respective groups. (e) Western blot assay for CTSD, VPS34, Beclin1, LC3II, and p62 expression levels in the sham, SCI, and GDF-11 groups. Gels were subjected to identical experimental conditions, with cropped blots presented. (f) Optical densities of CTSD, VPS34, Beclin1, LC3II, and p62 expression levels were quantified and investigated in the respective groups. Data are expressed as the , per group. and vs. the sham group. vs. the SCI group.

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