Fig. 7

Inhibition of Map4k4/NF-κB signaling pathway may be a potential mechanism of miR-547-3p-mediated anti-inflammatory effect of MT. A, B Western blot analysis showed the relative expression of p65, p-p65, IκBα, and p-IκBα. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (N = 8) and analyzed for statistical significance using one-way ANOVA followed by LSD post hoc analysis for multiple comparisons (^##P < 0.01 versus sham + NC group, ^**P < 0.01 versus CCD + NC group, ^ΔΔP < 0.01 versus MT + NC group). C, D qRT-PCR results showed the relative mRNA expression of p65 and IκBα. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (N = 8) and analyzed for statistical significance using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s T3 post hoc analysis for multiple comparisons (^##P < 0.01 versus sham + NC group, ^**P < 0.01 versus CCD + NC group, ^ΔP < 0.05 and ^ΔΔP < 0.01 versus MT + NC group). (E–G) ELISA revealed the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in DRG. The data are expressed as mean ± SD (N = 8). One-way ANOVA followed by LSD post hoc analysis was used for TNF-α and IL-1β, and one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s T3 post hoc analysis was used for IL-6 (^##P < 0.01 versus sham + NC group, ^**P < 0.01 versus CCD + NC group, ^ΔP < 0.05, and ^ΔΔP < 0.01 versus MT + NC group). ANOVA analysis of variance, CCD chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion, DRG dorsal root ganglion, ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, LSD least significant difference, MT manual therapy, NC negative control