Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 1 pp 685—700
ZIP4 upregulation aggravates nucleus pulposus cell degradation by promoting inflammation and oxidative stress by mediating the HDAC4-FoxO3a axis
Figure 5. ZIP4 knockdown mitigates ECM degradation in NP cells treated with IL-1β. (A) NP cells were transfected with sh-NC and sh-ZIP4. Western blot analysis confirmed the profile of ZIP4 in transfected NP cells. Subsequent to transfection, the cells underwent IL-1β (20 ng/ml) treatment for a duration of 24 hours. (B) LDH release in NP cells was evaluated. (C, D) ELISA was used to determine TNF-α and IL-6 expression in the cells. (E) Western blot verified COX2 and iNOS expression in the cells. (F–H) Alterations in MDA, SOD, and ROS levels in NP cells were detected. Scale bar=100 μm. (I) MMP-3, MMP-13, collagen II, and aggrecan profiles in the cells checked by western blot. N=3. *P<0.05, ***P<0.001 (vs. CON); +P<0.05, ++P<0.01, +++P<0.001 (vs. sh-NC+IL-1β).