Administration of N-Acetylcysteine to Regress the Fibrogenic and Proinflammatory Effects of Oxidative Stress in Hypertrophic Ligamentum Flavum Cells

Figure 7

Oxidative stress-related molecular mechanism of LFH, which is blocked by NAC, an oxidant scavenger and antioxidant replenisher. In hypertrophic LF cells, under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, elevated ROS, and diminished antioxidant levels were detected. With oxidative stress, the expression levels of intracellular signaling pathways and growth factors were enhanced, inducing an increase in inflammatory and fibrotic markers. Inflammation, fibrosis, and α-SMA expression contribute to LFH formation. Levels higher than baseline endogenous oxidative stress levels in hypertrophic LF cells compared with healthy cells derived from another study [17].