Figure 1.

Autophagy is an important regulator of the catabolic effects induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. mRNA expression of (A) matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) and (B) MMP9 in NP cells was induced by IL-1β and significantly repressed by additional rapamycin (Rapa). (C) MMP2 mRNA expression was not regulated by IL-1β, however, it was suppressed by additional Rapa. (D) A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 4 (ADAMTS4) and (E) COX2 mRNA expression in NP cells induced by IL-1β repressed by additional Rapa. Data represent mean + standard error of three independent experiments. ^*P<0.05; ns, not significant.