Research Paper Advance Articles

Figure 6. NR4A3 regulates NPC apoptosis and ECM synthesis. (A) NPCs were transfected with 25 nM CTR siRNA or NR4A3 siRNA-1 for 24 hours and then treated with 50 μM TBHP for 24 hours before protein extraction. The protein expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase 3, aggrecan, and collagen II were determined by western blotting. (B) Quantitative analysis of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase 3, aggrecan, and collagen II protein levels. (C) Representative flow cytometry images showing that NR4A3 siRNA protected NPCs from TBHP-induced apoptosis. (D) Quantitative analysis of the NPC apoptosis rate. (E) NPCs were transfected with 5 μg of the NR4A3 expression plasmid or the corresponding control vector. After 48 hours, the cells were treated with 50 μM TBHP for 24 hours. Total cellular proteins were extracted, and the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, aggrecan, and collagen II were determined by western blotting. (F) Quantitative analysis of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, aggrecan, and collagen II protein levels. (G) Representative flow cytometry images showing that overexpression of NR4A3 increased TBHP-induced apoptosis in NPCs. (H) Quantitative analysis of the NPC apoptosis rate. The data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 3). ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001, ^****p < 0.0001.