Dimethyl Fumarate Ameliorates Nucleus Pulposus Cell Dysfunction through Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Figure 2

DMF inhibits LPS-induced NPCs damage via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. (a) The Nrf2 and HO-1 expression was detected by western blot. (b) The negative control shRNA (sh-NC) and specific shRNA of Nrf2 (sh-Nrf2) were transfected into NPCs, respectively. The Nrf2 and HO-1 expression was detected by western blot and RT-qPCR. (c, d) The sh-NC and sh-Nrf2 were transfected into NPCs, respectively. After incubation for 36 h, the cells were treated with 50 μM DMF for 3 h and then stimulated by 1.2 μg/ml LPS. The Nrf2 expression was detected by western blot. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Data are presented as ( per group). Differences among groups were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and followed by Sidak’s multiple comparisons test between each group. is for , for , and for .

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