Circ_0004354 might compete with circ_0040039 to induce NPCs death and inflammatory response by targeting miR-345-3p-FAF1/TP73 axis in intervertebral disc degeneration

Figure 4

MiR-345-3p repressed NPCs degeneration by targeting FAF1 and TP73. (B,C,H,I) NPCs were transfected with FAF1/TP73 or empty vector or co-transfected with FAF1/TP73 and miR-345-3p mimic. (A,D,E,F,G) NPCs were treated with TNF-α after transfected with FAF1/TP73 or empty vector or co-transfected with FAF1/TP73 and miR-345-3p mimic. (A, G) The NPCs growth rate was detected at different time points using the CCK-8 assay. P <0.05, P <0.01, P 0.001. (B, C) NPCs apoptosis was measured with Annexin V FITC/PI double staining by using a flow cytometry detection assay. (D) The protein levels of FAF1, ACAN, COL2, IL-1β, c-GSDME, and c-CASP3 were detected by Western blot assay. Western blot analysis of TP73, ACAN, COL2, and IL-1β (E) as well as P21, BAX, c-GSDME, and c-CASP3 (F) proteins levels. (G, H) The concentration of IL-1β was detected by ELISA in NPCs. P <0.01.

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