Fig. 3

a Flow cytometry for autophagy incidence using monodansylcadaverine staining. The incidence of autophagy in OPLL-derived ligament fibroblasts was 1.6-fold of those in the non-OPLL-deprived ligament fibroblasts (n = 6 for each group). b RT-qPCR assay for Beclin1 and LC3 mRNA expressions. The expression levels of LC3 and Beclin1 mRNA increased in the OPLL-derived ligament fibroblasts compared with the non-OPLL-deprived ligament fibroblasts (n = 12 for each group). c Western blotting for LC3 and Beclin1 proteins. The expression levels of LC3 and Beclin1 proteins were significantly higher in the OPLL-derived ligament fibroblasts compared with the non-OPLL-deprived ligament fibroblasts (n = 12 for each group). ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 OPLL vs. non-OPLL. OPLL, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR; LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3