6-gingerol protects nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells from oxidative injury by activating autophagy

Figure 4 6-Gingerol decreases hydrogen peroxide-induced nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cell apoptosis. Nucleus pulposus-derived mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs) were treated with cell culture medium (CON group), 80 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide alone (HYD group), hydrogen peroxide and 30 μmol/L 6-gingerol (6-GIN group), or hydrogen peroxide and 6-GIN combined with 10 mmol/L 3-methyladenine (3-MA group). A: 6-GIN partially blocks hydrogen peroxide-induced matrix metalloproteinase loss. The data are expressed as the ratio of red over green fluorescence intensity assessed by flow cytometry; B-C: Representative pictures and statistical analysis of NPMSC apoptosis rate by Annexin-V/PI dual staining in different groups; D: TUNEL assay results of NPMSCs in different groups (bar = 200 μm); E: Quantitative analysis of fluorescence results; F-I: Western blot results and quantitative analysis of apoptosis related proteins (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2) in different groups; J: Bcl-2/Bax ratio. All data are the mean ± SE of at least three independent experiments. ^eP < 0.05 vs CON group; ^fP < 0.05 vs HYD group; ^gP < 0.05 vs 6-GIN group. 6-GIN: 6-gingerol; H₂O₂: Hydrogen peroxide; 3-MA: 3-methyladenine.