Fig. 7

Inhibition of miR-96-5p relieved IL-1β-induced apoptosis of HNPCs by regulating PPARγ. HNPCs were treated with IL-1β and/or transfected with miR-96-5p inhibitor and/or short hairpin PPARγ (groups: NC, IL-1β, IL-1β + miR-96-5p inhibitor, IL-1β + siPPARγ, IL-1β + miR-96-5p inhibitor + siPPARγ). A, B Flow cytometry analysis with Annexin V-PI staining was performed to evaluate the percentage of apoptotic HNPCs. C, D Western blot assay was used to analyze the protein expression of NF-κB in the nucleus. (**P < 0.05, ***P < 0.01 vs. NC group; ^#P < 0.05vs. IL-1β group; ^{^}P < 0.05 vs. IL-1β + miR-96-5p inhibitor; ^&P < 0.05 vs. IL-1β + siPPARγ). NC, normal control; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; PPARγ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; siPPARγ, small interfering PPARγ; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappaB; PI, propidium iodide; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; HNPCs, human nucleus pulposus cells