Fig. 2

The effects of MRTF-A in NPCs. a The Go enrichment analysis (MF) in NPCs cultured on soft or rigid substrates (top 10). b The phalloidin staining of NPCs cultured on soft or rigid substrates. c The level of MRTF-A in the nucleus and cytoplasm of NPCs cultured on soft or rigid substrates for 24 h. d The MRTF-A IHC images of NP tissues from normal and IVDD human (black arrows indicate representative positive cells). e The safranin O-fast green staining and MRTF-A IHC images of NP tissues from SHAM and IVDD rat models (black arrows indicate representative positive cells). f Quantification of MRTF-A IHC images. g The levels of MRTF-A in normal and IVDD group NP tissues. h The IF images of MRTF-A (Cy3) and phalloidin (FITC) staining of NPCs treated with CCG for 24 h under rigid substrate condition. i The levels of MRTF-A (nucleus), Acan, Col2a1, Col1a1, MMP3 and MMP13 in NPCs treated with 50 μmol/L CCG for 24 h under ridig substrate condition. j The IF images of MRTF-A (Cy3) and phalloidin (FITC) staining of NPCs treated with CD for 24 h under rigid substrate condition. k The levels of MRTF-A, Acan, Col2a1, Col1a1, MMP3 and MMP13 in NPCs treated with CD for 24 h under rigid substrate condition. Yellow scale bar = 1 000 μm, black scale bar = 200 μm, and white scale bar = 20 μm. ***P < 0.001