Selenium Attenuates TBHP-Induced Apoptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells by Suppressing Mitochondrial Fission through Activating Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2

Figure 2

Se ameliorated TBHP-induced apoptosis and ECM degeneration of NPCs. (a, b) Apoptosis of the NPCs detected by flow cytometry analysis. (c, d) Typical fluorescence photomicrograph and quantitation of TUNEL staining of NPCs (scale bar: 100 μm). (e, f) Representative western blot bands and quantitation of the expression of cleaved-caspase 9, cleaved-caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2 in the NPCs. (g, h) Representative western blot bands and quantitation of the expression of anabolic mediators (aggrecan and collagen II) and catabolic mediators (MMP3 and MMP9). The data are represented as the from at least 3 independent experiments. and vs. the TBHP group.

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