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

Figure 5

ITG α6 protects NP cells from apoptosis induced by HOT. (a, b) NP cells treated with HOT and siRNA-ITG α6 under serum-free conditions were stained with Annexin V and PI and detected by flow cytometric analysis. The apoptosis percentage was calculated according to the result of flow cytometric analysis. Data were presented as the . . , . (c, d) NP cells treated with HOT and siRNA-ITG α6 under serum-free conditions were stained with JC-1. Quantitative analysis of the green (high ) and red (low ) staining. The green (high ) to red (low ) ratio markedly increased in NP cells treated with siRNA-ITG α6 and HOT. . , . (e) Immunofluorescence staining of AIF in NP cells treated with HOT and siRNA-ITG α6 under serum-free conditions. (f) Quantitative analysis of positive immunofluorescence staining. . , . (g) Western blot analysis of BCL-2, Bax, caspase 3, and β-actin expression in NP cells treated with HOT and siRNA-ITG α6. (h) The results of western blot analysis are expressed as percentages of positive mean . . , .

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