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

Figure 5

Smad7 participates in IL-1β-induced apoptosis of rat AF cells via the mitochondria pathway. (a) Western-blot analysis of Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, procaspase 9, cleaved-caspase 9, procaspase 3, and cleaved caspase3 in whole cell lysis from Con, Ad-Con and Ad-Smad7-infected rat AF cells. (b) Western-blot analysis of Cyt-c in whole cell lysis from Con, Ad-Con, and Ad-Smad7 infected rat AF cells. (c) Western blot analysis of procaspase 9 and active cleaved-caspase 9. (d) Representative flow cytometry graphs of rat AF cells stained with Annexin V-FITC and PI after treatment with Z-LEHS-FMK. (e) Immunofluorescence assays of cleaved-caspase 9 in AF cells. . All experiments were performed at least three times. Con, Ad-Con, Ad-Smad7-infected rat AF cells, and Ad-Smad7-infected rat AF cells treated with Z-LEHS-FMK. Scale bar: 20 μM.

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