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

Figure 4

DMF suppresses ER stress-mediated apoptosis in NPCs via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. (a) The NPCs were treated as the indicated treatment, and the level of ER stress (Bip, calpain-2) was detected by western blot. (b) The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-12, caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2) were detected by western blot. The densitometry of protein bands relative to control was analyzed by the ImageJ software. (c) The NPC apoptosis rate under different treatments was detected by flow cytometry. 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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