Fig. 3

Gender-specific analysis of the changes in the mRNA expression of ACAN and reconfirmation of CSGALNACT1. The fold changes in the mRNA expression of ACAN induced by NTP treatment in cultured NP cells are shown. Blue denotes the rapid acetylator phenotype (Rap.) and orange denotes the intermediate acetylator phenotype (Int.). a, b The data from the male and female donors are plotted against age (years), respectively (Male Rap.: N = 9, Int.: N = 10; Female Rap.: N = 9, Int.: N = 3). A significantly negative correlation with age was observed in the female donors (P = 0.006). c Comparison between NAT2 phenotypes in the male donors. Mean values are indicated. There was a significant increase compared with the control in the intermediate acetylator phenotype (P = 0.001). d Changes in the mRNA expression of CSGALNACT1 induced by NTP treatment compared with the control. The cultured NP cells from impartially selected donors were used as experimental samples (N = 10, including rapid:intermediate = 5:5, responder:nonresponder = 5:5, and female:male = 4:6). NTP treatment significantly increased the expression of the CSGALNACT1 mRNA in NP cells compared with the control (P = 0.013)