Fig. 6: Oxidative stress-induced ECM matrix defects precede scoliosis onset. | Nature Communications

Fig. 6: Oxidative stress-induced ECM matrix defects precede scoliosis onset.

From: Oxidative stress-induced intervertebral disc remodelling and elevated stiffness drive idiopathic scoliosis in preclinical models

Fig. 6: Oxidative stress-induced ECM matrix defects precede scoliosis onset.The alt text for this image may have been generated using AI.

a Schematic of zebrafish notochord development at 10 dpf (5 mm SL) showing cartilaginous ECM domains (IVD), mineralized domains (vertebra), notochord vacuole and notochord sheath cells. This schematic is an original image created by Xu, R. (2025) with Tayasui Sketches. b Maximum and minimum ECM widths were measured from lines drawn from the apical surface (cyan dash), perpendicular to the basal surface (magenta dash), at the widest (1) and the narrowest (2) regions within the image, respectively, scale bar = 1 µm. c, d Representative transmission electron micrographs of the collagenous ECM in developing IVDs of 10 dpf (5 mm SL) wildtype (c) and sspodmh4/+ (d) larvae, scale bar = 1 μm, with respective magnified regions for wildtype (c’) and sspodmh4/+ (d’) scale bar = 500 nm. e, f Antioxidant treatment (500 μM NACET) had no effect on wildtype ECM development (e) but suppressed irregular collagen ECM thickness and fiber orientation phenotypes in sspodmh4/+ mutant animals (f), scale bar = 1 μm. g–i Quantification of matrix thickness showed no difference in local minimum ECM widths (g), but significant differences between wildtype (N = 8, n = 36) and sspodmh4/+ mutants (N = 9, n = 47) in maximum local thickness (f) and local thickness ratios (h). ECM thickness of sspodmh4/+ mutant IVDs (N = 7, n = 35) was restored to wildtype levels upon NACET treatment, while NACET treatment had no effect on wildtype IVD properties (N = 6, n = 22). Box plots show all data points, median, and min to max whiskers. Points of the same color belong to the same fish, demonstrating variations in phenotype severity among IVD segments of individual sspodmh4/+ fish. Violin plots show all data points; each dot represents a measurement from a single cartilaginous domain, and points with the same color came from the same fish. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by a Dunn’s multiple comparison test (ns: non-significant p > 0.05, *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01, ***p ≤ 0.001, ****p ≤ 0.0001). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Back to article page