Research Article

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

Figure 5

Suppression of autophagy reverses the influence exerted by GDF-11 on pyroptosis and necroptosis following spinal cord injury. (a) Neuron colocalization and immunofluorescence staining for p62 and LC3II at the spinal cord lesion following spinal cord injury (scale ). (b) The quantitative mean optical density of p62 and the number of LC3II-positive neurons in neurons of spinal cord lesions in the respective groups. (c) Western blot assay for CTSD, VPS34, Beclin1, LC3II, and p62 expression levels in the respective groups. (d) Optical densities of CTSD, VPS34, Beclin1, LC3II, and p62 expression levels were quantified and investigated in the respective groups. (e) Neuron colocalization and immunofluorescence staining for Caspase-1 and GSDMD in the spinal cords of each group (scale ). (f) The quantitative mean optical density of Caspase-1 and GSDMD in neurons of spinal cord lesions. (g) Western blot assay for IL-18, IL-1β, GSDMD, Caspase-1, ASC, NLRP3, and NLRP1 expression levels in the respective groups. (h) Optical densities of IL-18, IL-1β, GSDMD, Caspase-1, ASC, NLRP3, and NLRP1 expression levels were quantified and investigated in the respective groups. (i) Neuron colocalization and immunofluorescence staining for RIPK1 and RIPK3 in the spinal cords of each group (scale ). (j) Quantification of the optical density of RIPK1 and RIPK3 in neurons of spinal cord lesions. (k) Western blot assay for Caspase-8, MLKL, RIPK3, and RIPK1 expression levels in the respective groups. (l) Optical densities of Caspase-8, MLKL, RIPK3, and RIPK1 expression levels were quantified and investigated in the respective groups. Data are expressed as the , per group. and vs. the GDF-11 group.
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