Periostin as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for intervertebral disc degeneration

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Bioinformatic analysis identified POSTN as one of the critical factors regulating intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). A Heatmap showing the sample and differentially expressed gene (DEG) clustering in GSE34095, B volcano plot showing the DEGs in GSE34095, C heatmap showing the sample and DEG clustering in GSE245147, D volcano plot showing the DEGs in GSE245147, E heatmap showing the sample and DEG clustering in GSE147383, F volcano plot showing the DEGs in GSE147383, G Venn diagram of the up-regulated gene overlap for the three datasets, H Venn diagram of the down-regulated gene overlap for the three datasets

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  Fig. 2. POSTN serves as a marker for diagnosing intervertebral disc degeneration in patients. A Representative magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the lumbar intervertebral discs for the patients of different grades. Arrows indicate the target discs, B representative immunohistochemical staining images of patient nucleus pulposus POSTN expression, C POSTN+ cell ratio in patients of different grades (n = 3). ****P < 0.00001, ns, not significant, D the ROC curve of POSTN content in patient plasma

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  Fig. 3. POSTN mediates TNF-α-induced NP degeneration by impairing autophagy and ECM synthesis. A Immunofluorescent images of POSTN protein expression after TNF-α stimulation, B Western blotting of POSTN, type Ⅱ collagen, and aggrecan expressions in nucleus pulposus cells, C relative RNA expression of Postn after siRNA transfection. ***P < 0.0001, D immunofluorescent images of POSTN protein expression after TNF-α and siPostn treatment, E Western blotting of the POSTN protein expression in nucleus pulposus cells, F heatmap of the DEGs between TNF-α and TNF-α + siPostn groups, G gene Set Enrichment Analysis plot on autophagy comparing the TNF-α with TNF-α + siPostn groups

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  Fig. 4. POSTN participates in regulating autophagy of nucleus pulposus cells. A Immunofluorescent images of LC3B and P62 after TNF-α and siPostn treatment, B Western blotting of LC3B and P62 expressions in nucleus pulposus cells, C, D transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the autophagosomes in nucleus pulposus cells (C) and the quantitative data (D) (n = 3). *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.0001

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  Fig. 5. Inhibiting POSTN in the nucleus pulposus ameliorates intervertebral disc degeneration. A H&E staining of the rat caudal IVDs at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, B IHC staining of POSTN in the rat IVDs at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery, C X-ray images of the 4w rat IVDs and the DHI quantitative data, D MRI results of the 4w rat IVDs and the corresponding Pfirrmann grades. Arrows indicate the target discs, E X-ray images of the 8w rat IVDs and the DHI quantitative data, F MRI results of the 8w rat IVDs and the corresponding Pfirrmann grades. Arrows indicate the target discs. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.00001, ns, not significant