Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 4 pp 3896—3914
GAS5, a long noncoding RNA, contributes to annulus fibroblast osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis in intervertebral disk degeneration via the miR-221-3p/SOX11 axis
Figure 1. Characterization of IVDD rat model-derived Afs. (A) HE staining of Co6-7 intervertebral disk of rats from the sham and IVDD groups (n = 6). Abbreviations: AF: annulus fibrosus; NP: nucleus pulposus; IS: intervertebral space; EP: endplate. Scale bar = 500 μm. The black arrows represent AF and EP cells, respectively. (B) ALP and (C) ARS staining assays were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation level (n = 3). (D) The markers for osteogenic differentiation were detected using a western blotting assay (n = 3). (E) A western blotting assay examined apoptosis-related protein levels. (n = 3) (F) TUNEL assay was performed to analyze the apoptosis of AFs (n = 3). (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001).