Propionibacterium acnes Induces Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Promoting iNOS/NO and COX-2/PGE₂ Activation via the ROS-Dependent NF-κB Pathway

Figure 6

Participation of NADPH oxidase in P. acnes-induced ROS, iNOS/NO, and COX-2/PGE₂ expressions. (a) Flow cytometric analysis of ROS fluorescence intensity in NPCs infected with P. acnes for 24 hours, pretreated with or without DPI (10 μM). The infection + DPI group compared with the infection group. (b–d) DPI inhibited P. acnes-induced iNOS/NO and COX-2/PGE₂ production in NPCs. The infection + DPI group compared with the infection group; . values were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Data are presented as the mean ± SD from three independent experiments.

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