Fig. 3

HOTAIR enhances human NP cell senescence, apoptosis, and ECM degradation. a HOTAIR expression in NP cells was determined by RT-qPCR following transfection. b RT-qPCR analysis of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-9, MMP-10, type II collagen, and aggrecan mRNA expression in NP cells following transfection. c Western blot images of protein expression (cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, p16, and p53) in NP cells. d Histogram showing the relative protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, p16, and p53 in NP cells. e Proliferation of NP cells was determined by an MTT assay. f Flow cytometric distributions of apoptosis and cell cycle phases of NP cells. Data are presented as mean ± SD from 3 samples for each group in 3 independent experiments. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test. *P < 0.05 vs. vector group