Fig. 1

Levels of TLR9, NF-κB, and NLRP3 inflammasomes were associated with the degree of IVDD. a MRI and H&E images of NP with different degrees of IVDD. b Immunohistochemistry images of NLRP3 in NP with different degrees of IVDD. c TSA-IF images of TLR9 and NF-κB in NP with different degrees of IVDD. d Western blotting images of TLR9, NF-κB, and NLRP3 in NP with different degrees of IVDD. NP specimens for each grade of IVDD were obtained from 5 patients (n = 5), and each specimen was repeated for 3 times. e The quantitative analysis of TLR9, NF-κB, and NLRP3 expression levels in NP with different degrees of IVDD (n = 5). f Correlation analysis between the TLR9, NF-κB, NLRP3, and the Pfirrmann grades (n = 20). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001