Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Protects H₂O₂-Induced Nucleus Pulposus Cell Apoptosis and Inflammation by Inhibiting cGAS/Sting/NLRP3 Activation

Figures & data

Figure 1 The mRNA expression of cGAS, Sting and NLRP3 in IDD cases. (A) The expression of cGAS, Sting and NLRP3 in IDD patients and controls. (B) The correlation analyses of cGAS mRNA and NLRP3. (C) The correlation analyses of Sting mRNA and NLRP3. The linear trend was fitted by linear regression method. ***P < 0.001.

Figure 2 The effect of EGCG of cell viability in H₂O₂ treatment-induced NPCs. (A) NPCs cell viability treated by H₂O₂ from Day 0 to Day 5. (B) EGCG in 5 μM and 25 μM treatment for the NPCs treated by H₂O₂. ***P < 0.001.

Figure 3 Effect of EGCG on apoptosis and cell cycle in H₂O₂ treatment-induced NPCs. (A) The apoptosis rate was detected in EGCG in 5 μM and 25 μM treatment for H₂O₂-treated NPCs; (B) the cell cycle was detected in EGCG in 5 μM and 25 μM treatment for H₂O₂-treated NPCs. ***P < 0.001. n = 4.

Figure 4 Effect of EGCG on apoptosis-associated genes, including caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax and Bcl-2 in H₂O₂-treated NPC cell by Western blotting. (A) protein of caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax and Bcl-2 in control, H₂O₂ treatment, 5 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment and 25 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment group; (B) the relative expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax and Bcl-2 in control, H₂O₂ treatment, 5 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment and 25 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment group. n=3, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Figure 5 Effect of EGCG on cell migration of EGCG treatment on H₂O₂-treated NPCs. (A) Cell migration in control, H₂O₂ treatment, 5 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment and 25 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment group; (B) summary of cell migration in control, H₂O₂ treatment, 5 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment and 25 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment group. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Figure 6 Expression of cGAS, Sting and NLRP3 in EGCG-treated NCPs with H₂O₂-treated NPCs. (A) the expression of cGAS, Sting and NLRP3 in control, H₂O₂ treatment, 5 μM EGCG in H₂O₂ treatment and 25 μM EGCG in the H₂O₂ treatment group; (B) summary of expression of cGAS, Sting and NLRP3 in EGCG-treated NCPs with H₂O₂-treated NPCs. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Figure 7 Effects of EGCG of the pro-inflammatory factor expression in H₂O₂-treated NPCs. The expression of several pro-inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA and presented in IL-1β, TNFα, IL6 and IL6. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. n = 4.