Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 10 pp 14185—14197

Figure 7. CircITCH contributes to ECM degradation of degenerative NP cells by modulating miR-17-5p/SOX4/Wnt/β-catenin signaling. (A–C) The NP cells were transfected with control shRNA, lentiviral plasmids carrying circITCH shRNA, or co-treated with lentiviral plasmids carrying circITCH shRNA and pcDNA3.1-SOX4 overexpression vector, miR-17-5p inhibitor, or LiCl. (A) The cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 assays in the cells. (B) Cell apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry analysis in the cells. (C) The protein expression of collagen II, aggrecan, MMP13, ADAMTS4, and β-actin was analyzed by Western blot analysis in the cells. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistic significant differences were indicated: * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01.