Figure 5 | Scientific Reports

Figure 5

From: Aberrant spinal mechanical loading stress triggers intervertebral disc degeneration by inducing pyroptosis and nerve ingrowth

Figure 5

Aberrant mechanical stress-induced pyroptosis in IVD tissues. (a, b) Immunofluorescence staining for Nlrp3 expression (green) at 4- and 8-W post-surgery. DAPI stains nuclei blue. White arrowheads indicate high expression of Nlrp3 in NP; White arrows indicate high expression of Nlrp3 in AF. (c) Quantification of Nlrp3-positive cells in IVD of (a, b). (d, e) Immunofluorescence for Caspase-1 (d) and IL-1β (e) in the IVD (green) at 4- and 8-W post-surgery. DAPI stains nuclei blue. White arrowheads indicate a high expression of Caspase-1 in NP. White arrows indicate a high expression of Caspase-1 and IL-1β in AF. (f, g) Quantification of Caspase-1 and IL-1β expression in NP or AF region of (d, e). The averages of integrated optical density in interest region was calculated by Image-Pro Plus software version 6.0 (https://www.mediacy.com). Data are shown as mean ± sem. Three independent experiments were performed in triplicate. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared to Sham group.

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