Fig. 1: IVD degeneration was accompanied by the activation of the cGAS-STING axis and NLRP3 inflammasome. | Experimental & Molecular Medicine

Fig. 1: IVD degeneration was accompanied by the activation of the cGAS-STING axis and NLRP3 inflammasome.

From: Cytosolic escape of mitochondrial DNA triggers cGAS-STING-NLRP3 axis-dependent nucleus pulposus cell pyroptosis

Fig. 1

a Representative western blotting images of NLRP3, cGAS, and STING in the NP tissues of patients with different degrees of degeneration according to the Pfirrmann MRI grading system (n = 4). b Quantification of the protein expression levels of NLRP3, cGAS, and STING in the NP tissues of patients with different degrees of degeneration (n = 4). c Linear regression analysis between the NLRP3, cGAS, or STING protein levels (Log2 (FC): The log2-fold-change of the NLRP3, cGAS, or STING protein expression level compared to the average of Grade IV tissues) and the Pfirrmann MRI grades (n = 16). d Linear regression analysis between the cGAS or STING and NLRP3 protein levels in the NP tissues of patients (n = 16). e Representative MRI images, pathological images, and H&E staining of NP tissues with different degrees of degeneration. f Immunohistochemistry of NLRP3 in NP tissues with different degrees of degeneration. g Tyramide signal amplification immunofluorescence of cGAS and STING in the NP tissues of patients with different degrees of degeneration. Data are shown as the mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments. Statistical analyses were conducted using two-way ANOVA and Student’s t test. The P value is indicated by stars: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

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