Fig. 5

CD24⁺ NP cells transplantation ameliorates disc degeneration. a lateral X-ray images at 0 and 4 weeks after CD24⁺ and unsorted NP cells transplantation into the NP tissue punctured with needle. b-c Quantification of disc height at 0 and 4 weeks after CD24⁺ and unsorted NP cells transplantation into the NP tissue punctured with needle. d-e Midsagittal T2-weighted images at 0 and 4 weeks after CD24⁺ and unsorted NP cells transplantation into the NP tissue punctured with needle. f Histological analysis of intervertebral discs by Safranin O/Fast Green staining, immunohistochemical staining of collagen II and MMP13 in IVDs. Scale bars represent 100 μm. g-i Western blot analysis of collagen II and MMP13 in IVDs. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. P-values were analyzed by two-tailed t tests in (c) and one-way ANOVA in (e-i)