Fig. 6

dNPc-exo-carried miR-27a-3p induces M1 polarization of macrophages in IVDD animal model. (A) X-ray images of rat spines. (B) Quantification of the DHI%. (C) MRI images of rat spines. (D) Quantification of the Pffirmann grade. (E) Micro-CT and 3D reconstruction images of rat spines. (F) Representative images of H & E staining of experimental groups. Scale bar = 500 μm. (G) The histological scores of different groups after treatment. (H) Representative images of immunofluorescence staining of different groups. Scale bar = 100 μm. (I) Quantitative analysis of the iNOS⁺ macrophages percentage in immunofluorescence staining. (J) Schematic diagram of co-culturing of nNPc and M1 macrophages. (K) Western blot analysis of Col2A1, MMP3 and TNF-α expression in nNPc after co-culturing with M1 macrophages. (L) Quantitative analysis of Col2A1, MMP3 and TNF-α expression in nNPc after co-culturing with M1 macrophages. The data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. n = 3. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001; ns, non-significant difference