Aloin Regulates Matrix Metabolism and Apoptosis in Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells via the TAK1/NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway

Figure 2

Aloin treatment enhances the anabolism and suppresses the catabolism in TNF-α-treated NPCs. (a) The chemical structure of aloin is shown (quoted from http://www.medchemexpress.cn/.) (b) Detection of aloin’s cytotoxic effect on NPCs at various concentrations at 24 and 48 h posttreatment using a CCK-8 assay (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 μM). (c) The mRNA expression levels of COL2A1, ADAMTS5, MMP9, and MMP13 in the different groups were detected by qPCR. (d) Protein expression of COL2A1, ADAMTS5, MMP9, and MMP13 was detected by western blotting in the different groups. (e) Both ADAMTS4 and COL2A1 were detected by immunofluorescence staining. DAPI was used to stain for the nuclei. Images (magnification: ×400, scale bar: 50 μm). In this (c–e), aloin was used at the concentration of 200 μM, while TNF-α was at the concentration of 10 ng/ml. , .

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