Fig. 2
From: Excessive reactive oxygen species are therapeutic targets for intervertebral disc degeneration
Molecular phenotype of the rat AF cells treated with ROS. a Flow cytometry confirmed that the intracellular level of ROS was significantly increased by treatment with H2O2 and BSO in AF cells. b Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression of TNFα, MMP-3, and COX-2 was significantly induced by treatment with H2O2, whereas aggrecan mRNA expression was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. c mRNA expression of TNFα, MMP-3, and COX-2 was significantly induced by treatment with BSO, whereas aggrecan mRNA expression was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by real-time RT-PCR. Data presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments performed in triplicate (n = 3); *p <0.05. BSO buthionine sulfoximine, COX cyclooxygenase, H 2 O 2 hydrogen peroxide, MMP matrix metalloprotease, ns not significant, TNF tumor necrosis factor