Fig. 2.

Kindlin-2 deletion results in spontaneous and progressive IVDD in lumbar IVDs in mice. a A schematic illustration of the experimental design. b, c IF staining of K2 in lumbar IVDs in control and Kindlin-2 conditionally knockout (cKO) mice at 3 months of age. Scale bar, 200 μm. n = 6. d, f SO&FG staining and histological scores of lumbar IVDs in control and cKO mice at 3, 5 and 8 months of age. Scale bar, 200 μm. n = 6. e Cell numbers of NP in control and cKO mice at 3, 5, and 8 months of age. n = 6. g, h, j, k Western blotting analyses of Aggrecan (Acan), Collagen type II (Col2a1), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 5 (Adamts5) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (Mmp13) as well as active Caspase3, Bcl2 and Bax in lumbar IVDs in control and cKO mice at 8 months of age. n = 3. i, l IF staining of Acan, Col2a1, Mmp13 and Adamts5 as well as active Caspase3, Bcl2, and Bax in NP tissues in lumbar IVDs of control and cKO mice at 8 months of age. Scale bar, 50 μm. m, n TUNEL staining of NP tissues in lumbar IVDs of control and cKO mice at 8 months of age. Scale bar, 50 μm. n = 6. NS, no statistical significance, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001