Figure 5.

CGRP expedited ECM degradation in vitro. (a, b) Immunofluorescence results suggested higher protein translation of MMP 3 and lower protein translation of aggrecan in human NP cells with the treatment of CGRP. (c) The result of qRT-PCR analysis revealed that inhibitory effects of CGRP on mRNA transcription of aggrecan and type II collagen in NP cells were dose-dependent. (d, e) Higher protein translation of MMP 3 and lower protein translation of aggrecan in NP cells with administration of CGRP were observed according to the result of western blot analysis. ^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗p < 0.01, ^∗∗∗p < 0.001, and ^∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; ns: no significance. Scale bar = 100 μm.