Figure 1.

Apoptosis and Calcification in Cartilaginous Endplate (CEP) of IVDD Patients and TBHP-Treated EPCs

(A) Representative plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and MRI images of patients with cervical myelopathy or Hirayama disease (HD). (B) Endplate forms a continuing boundary superior and inferior to the intervertebral disc that segregates the vertebra from the inner nucleus pulposus (NP). (C) Runx2 and BMP-2 protein levels were upregulated in CEP from patients with IVDD. (D) Caspase-3 and caspase-7 protein levels were upregulated in CEP from patients with IVDD. (E) Calcification was upregulated in TBHP-treated EPCs using the alizarin red staining and ALP staining methods (scale bars, 50 μm). (F) Runx2 expression was detected by immunofluorescence analysis (scale bars, 200 μm). (G) Impact of TBHP on EPC apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry assay. Data are mean ± SD. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001.