Research Paper Volume 15, Issue 6 pp 2275—2292

PTEN inhibitor VO-OHpic protects endplate chondrocytes against apoptosis and calcification via activating Nrf-2 signaling pathway

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Figure 3. VO-OHpic inhibited oxidative stress induced cartilage endplate calcification. (A, B) Immunohistochemistry for COL10 and OCN in cartilage endplate from Ctrl group, IDD group and IDD+VO-OHpic group. Scale bar = 50 μm. The ratio of positive cells for COL10 and OCN were quantified under a microscope at 400× magnification using five sections from seven mice. (C) Alizarin Red staining for calcium deposition in endplate chondrocytes. Semi-quantitative analysis of the mineralized nodule in endplate chondrocytes. (D) ALP staining in endplate chondrocytes. Semi-quantitative analysis of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in endplate chondrocytes. (E) CEP chondrocytes were treated with TBHP (100 μM) and VO-OHpic (1 μM) for 24 h and western blot was conducted to examine the protein levels of COL10 and RUNX2. The band density of COL10 and RUNX2 was quantified and normalized to control. Data are presented as mean ± SD from three independent experiments. ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.