Fig 2: Cystathionine-?-lyase and CD62E expression in NP tissues and cells. Bioinformatics analysis of expression profiles of patients with IDD and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. (A) Heat map of top 300 DEGs. (B) Volcano plot of DEGs shows significantly altered mRNA expression with p < 0.05 (green dots: upregulated DEGs; red dots: downregulated DEGs). (C) GO analysis term. (D) Western blot images of CSE and CD62E and (E) its quantitative analysis. (F) IHC images of NP tissue (CSE and CD62E). (G) Representative western blot images of NP cells after stimulation with various doses of IL-1ß for 24 h and (H,I) its quantitative analysis. (J) Representative western blot images of NP cells after stimulation with 5 ng/mL IL-1ß for different times and (K,L) its quantitative analysis. Black scale bar: 100 µm.

Fig 3: Effects of AV-CD62E on rat IDD model. (A) T2-weighted MRI images of rat tail at 2 and 4 weeks post-surgery (red boxes: needle-puncture disc locations). (B) Pfirrmann MRI scores (n = 6). (C) Representative H&E and (D) Safranin O/Fast Green staining images. (E) IHC images of MMP-3 and MMP-13 and (F,G) quantification. (H) CD31 IF images. Black scale bar: 100 μm. White scale bar: 500 μm.

Fig 4: NF-κB function in IDD. (A) Western blot analysis of MMPs and ECM components and (B) quantification. (C–J) RT-PCR measurement of mRNA levels of ECM-encoding genes, ECM-degrading genes, and secreted inflammatory factors. (K) Representative western blot images of CSE, CD62E, P65, p-P65, and VEGF-A and (L,M) quantification (IL-1β). (N) Representative western blot images of CSE, CD62E, P65, p-P65, and VEGF-A and (O,P) quantification (TNF-α).

Fig 5: Cystathionine-?-lyase overexpression inhibits CD62E and NF-?B signaling pathways in NP cells. (A) Representative western blot images and (B) quantification of effect of CSE overexpression in NP cells. (C–J) RT-PCR measurement of mRNA levels of ECM-encoding genes, ECM-degrading genes, and secreted inflammatory factors. (K) Representative western blot images of CSE, CD62E, P65, p-P65, and VEGF-A and (L,M) quantification (IL-1ß). (N) Representative western blot images of CSE, CD62E, P65, p-P65, and VEGF-A and (O,P) quantification (TNF-a). (Q) IF analysis of P65 and (R) p-P65 after IL-1ß treatment. White scale bar: 50 µm.