Figure 4.

ICMT induces degeneration of endplate cartilage. (A) Real‐time RT‐PCR and western blot analyses of COL‐2A, ACAN, Sox9 mRNA and protein expression in samples from three groups. Data are presented as mean ± SD, n ≥ 3/group. All experiments were repeated at least three times. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01. (B) MMP13 mRNA and protein expression was assessed by real‐time RT‐PCR and western blot after ICMT application. Data are presented as mean ± SD, n ≥ 3/group. All experiments were repeated at least three times. *, P < 0.05. (C) The expression and location of MMP13 protein were detected by immunofluorescence. Representative results from three donors are shown.