Fig. 2
From: Protective role of the alpha-1-antitrypsin in intervertebral disc degeneration
A Cell viability of N.P. cells after treatment with 25 ng/mL TNF-α or not, and then incubation with 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 μM AAT for 48 h. B RT-qPCR was used for analyzing the RNA expression of cleaved caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2 in human N.P. cells. C, D Western blot was used for analyzing the expression of cleaved caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2 in human N.P. cells at the protein level. E The expression of ECM synthesis genes (Aggrecan, COL2A1, Collagen II) and matrix-degrading enzymes (MMP-13, ADAMTS-5) was detected by RT-qPCR. All data were based on at least three independent experiments. (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001)