G-Protein Coupled Receptor 35 Induces Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Mediating the Influx of Calcium Ions and Upregulating Reactive Oxygen Species

Figure 3

Inhibition of GPR35 attenuates mechanical stress-induced IDD in vivo and in vitro. (a, b) Overexpression of the GPR35 gene in a time-dependent manner when NPCs are compressed in vitro. (c) Increased GPCR 35 protein expression was found in caudal compressed IVD of mice. (d, e) Knocking down GPR35 with siRNA in NPCs rescued the mechanical stress-induced downregulation of main ECM proteins and upregulation of the catabolic factor. (f, g) Caudal IVDs in mice were compressed with the Ilizarov setting, and IVDs in GPR35^-/- mice showed less degeneration and more reserved ECM. According to modified Thompson grade for histological grading of intervertebral disc in H-E straining, it was grade 3 and grad 4 for GPR35^-/- mice and wild-type mice, respectively. (The data are shown as the . and for comparisons between two groups. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test were used for statistical analysis).

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