The Differential Effects of Leukocyte-Containing and Pure Platelet-Rich Plasma on Nucleus Pulposus-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Implications for the Clinical Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Figure 5

Effects of P-PRP and L-PRP on activation of NF-κB pathway. (a, b) mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes (IL-1β, TNF-α) and catabolic marker genes (MMP-1, MMP-13), as measured by qRT-PCR. (c, d) Production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and catabolic cytokines (MMP-1, MMP-13), as determined by ELISA assay. (e) Production of NF-κB/p65 in the nucleus, as assessed by western blot. “” indicates that the difference between the P-PRP or L-PRP and control was statistically significant (). “#” indicates that the difference between L-PRP and P-PRP was statistically significant ().

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