Combined injection of HAMC and WJ-MSC inhibits the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and matrix-degrading enzymes. (A) iNOS mRNA expression, (B) MMP-13 mRNA expression, (C) Adamts4 mRNA expression, and (D) Cox-2 mRNA expression. In the HAMC/WJ-MSCs-injected discs, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (inducible nitric oxide synthase; iNOS) and matrix-degrading enzymes, including MMP-13, A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (Adamts4) and Cycloxygenase-2 (Cox-2) were found to be significantly downregulated compared to the vehicle-injected disc. Data are presented as mean ± SEM, one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. (n = 3). For time, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as internal control. #
p < 0.05, ##
p < 0.01, ###
p < 0.001 (vehicle vs.control), $
p < 0.05, $$$
p < 0.001 (HAMC vs. vehicle), ^
p < 0.05, ^^^
p < 0.001 (WJ-MSCs vs. vehicle only), * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 (HAMC + WJ-MSCs vs. vehicle only).