The expression of EZH2 increased in human degenerated CEP. (A) Representative MR images of three different degrees of IVDD patients (Pfirrmann grades: II, III, V). (B) The expression of EZH2 from EPCs of different degrees of IVDD patients was analyzed by western blot. (C) Quantification of EZH2 immunoblots of EPCs of different degrees of IVDD patients. (D) Representative MR images of normal CEP of lumbar fracture patients (Pfirrmann grades I) and degenerated CEP of IVDD patients (Pfirrmann grades V). (E) SO staining of normal and degenerated CEP, and IHC staining for EZH2 of human normal and degenerated CEP tissue. (F) Percentages of EZH2-positive cells detected in human normal and degenerated CEP tissue. All experiments were performed three times, and data are reported as the mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.