Increased Expression of Integrin Alpha 6 in Nucleus Pulposus Cells in Response to High Oxygen Tension Protects against Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Figure 2

The expression of ITG α6 is increased in the NP tissue from patients with mild degeneration of IVDD. (a) Representative T2-weighted MRI of human NP tissues graded by the Pfirrmann system: normal (Pfirrmann I), mild degeneration (Pfirrmann II), moderate degeneration (Pfirrmann III), and severe degeneration (Pfirrmann IV-V). (b) HE staining and Alcian Blue staining of human NP tissues with different degrees of IVDD. . (c) Immunofluorescence staining of ITG α6 in human NP tissue with different degrees of IVDD. (d) Quantitative analysis of positive immunofluorescence staining. . , . (e) Western blot analysis of ITG α6 in human NP tissue with different degrees of IVDD. (f) The results of western blot analysis are expressed as percentages of positive mean . . , .

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