Smad7 Is Highly Expressed in Human Degenerative Discs and Participates in IL-1β-Induced Apoptosis of Rat AF Cells via the Mitochondria Pathway

Figure 3

Smad7 Knockdown alleviates the IL-1β-induced apoptosis of AF cells. (a) qRT-PCR assays to detect the mRNA expression of Smad7 in AF cells treated with si-NC, si-Smad7-1, si-Smad7-2, and si-Smad7-3. (b) Western blotting assays to detect the protein expression of Smad7 in AF cells treated with si-NC, si-Smad7-1, si-Smad7-2, and si-Smad7-3. (c) Representative pictures of TUNEL-stained AF cells treated with si-NC, si-NC+IL-1β, and si-Smad7+IL-1β. (d) Western blotting assays to detect the protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase 9, and cleaved-caspase 3 in AF cells treated with si-NC, IL-1β, and si-Smad7+IL-1β. values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. . All experiments were performed at least three times. Scale bar: 10 μM.

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