Fig. 7.

Effects of p38 MAPK inhibition on senescence associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) activity, telomerase activity, G1 cell cycle arrest and senescence marker (p16 and p53) expression, matrix molecule (aggrecan and collagen II) expression and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in the 20% deformation compression group. The results showed that p38 MAPK inhibition decreased SA-β-Gal activity (a), increased telomerase activity (b), attenuated G1 cell cycle arrest (c), downregulated senescence marker (p16 and p53) expression (d), upregulated matrix molecule (aggrecan and collagen II) expression (e) and increased glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content (f) of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in the 20% deformation compression group. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 3). *Indicates a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the two groups