Figure 4 | Scientific Reports

Figure 4

From: Differential expression of p38 MAPK α, β, γ, δ isoforms in nucleus pulposus modulates macrophage polarization in intervertebral disc degeneration

Figure 4

Activation of p38 isoforms in degenerated NP tissue.

(A) Immunofluorescence double-labeling of phosphorylated p38 MAPK (green) and p38 MAPK α, β, γ and δ isoforms (red) in the degenerated NP tissue. Phosphorylated p38 that are double-labeled with the α, β and δ isoforms. Bar  =  50 μm. (B) Pooled extracts of NP tissue from IDD patients was subjected to immunoprecipitation with an antibody against phosphorylated p38 MAPK. The IP group, Input group and IgG group, were then stained for each p38 MAPK isoform (n = 11). (C,E) Western blot analysis of upstream kinases, MKK3, 4, 6 in degenerated NP tissue of MRI grades II (n = 3), III (n = 3), IV (n = 3) and V (n = 3). Blots were was analysed by densitometry. (*P < 0.05) (D) Quantification of the percent of cells expressing each p38 MAPK isoform that also labeled with phosphorylated p38 MAPK in degenerated NP samples (n = 150, *P < 0.05).

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