Targeting Oxidative Stress with Amobarbital to Prevent Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Mechanical stimulation plays a crucial part in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, which is a crucial mechanical microenvironment of the nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue, contributes to the pathogenesis of IDD. The mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 mediates mechanical transduction. This study purposed to investigate the function of Piezo1 in human NP cells under ECM stiffness. The expression of Piezo1 and the ECM elasticity modulus increased in degenerative NP tissues. Stiff ECM activated the Piezo1 channel and increased intracellular Ca2+ levels. Moreover, the activation of Piezo1 increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and the expression of GRP78 and CHOP, which contribute to oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Furthermore, stiff ECM aggravated oxidative stress-induced senescence and apoptosis in human NP cells. Piezo1 inhibition alleviated oxidative stress-induced senescence and apoptosis, caused by the increase in ECM stiffness. Finally, Piezo1 silencing ameliorated IDD in an in vivo rat model and decreased the elasticity modulus of rat NP tissues. In conclusion, we identified the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in human NP cells as a mechanical transduction mediator for stiff ECM stimulation. Our results provide novel insights into the mechanism of mechanical transduction in NP cells, with potential for treating IDD.

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Dimethyl fumarate protects nucleus pulposus cells from inflammation and oxidative stress and delays the intervertebral disc degeneration

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine ◽

10.3892/etm.2020.9399 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 1-1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hainian Zhu ◽

Gang Chen ◽

Yuhua Wang ◽

Xuchen Lin ◽

Jingyuan Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Dimethyl Fumarate ◽

Nucleus Pulposus Cells ◽

And Oxidative Stress

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Nrf2 mediated ER-phagy protects against oxidative damage in intervertebral disc degeneration

10.1101/2021.11.21.469451 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

zhen lin ◽

libin ni ◽

cheng teng ◽

zhao zhang ◽

xinlei lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Oxidative Damage ◽

Er Stress ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Cellular Damage ◽

Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) increases the risk of low back pain (LBP). Oxidative stress may induce cellular damage and contribute to various diseases including IDD. Endoplasmic reticulum autophagy (ER-phagy) is a specific type of autophagy, its role in oxidative stress induced damage as well as in IDD is unknown. This study explores the role of ER-phagy in oxidative damage in intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), as well as the Nrf2/FAM134B axis in ER-phagy regulation and IDD therapy. We found ER-phagy was decreased in NPCs during oxidative stress; while FAM134B may promote ER-phagy and alleviate oxidative stress induced ER-stress and apoptosis. In addition, the nuclear transcription factor Nrf2 may promote the expression of FAM134B as well as ER-phagy, and suppress ER-stress and apoptosis in NPCs. Furthermore, overexpression of FAM134B and Nrf2 could effectively attenuate the progression of IDD in rats in vivo. These results suggest Nrf2/FAM134B mediated ER-phagy may combat oxidative damage in cells; meanwhile, ER-phagy as well as Nrf2 could be potential therapeutic targets for IDD.

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Restoration of Autophagic Flux Rescues Oxidative Damage and Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Protect against Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2019/7810320 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Liang Kang ◽

Qian Xiang ◽

Shengfeng Zhan ◽

Yu Song ◽

Kun Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Oxidative Damage ◽

Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Cell Apoptosis ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Autophagic Flux ◽

Ecm Degradation

Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis play crucial roles in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Increasing studies have shown that interventions targeting impaired autophagic flux can maintain cellular homeostasis by relieving oxidative damage. Here, we investigated the effect of curcumin (CUR), a known autophagy activator, on IDD in vitro and in vivo. CUR suppressed tert-butyl hydroperoxide- (TBHP-) induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction and thereby inhibited human NP cell apoptosis, senescence, and ECM degradation. CUR treatment induced autophagy and enhanced autophagic flux in an AMPK/mTOR/ULK1-dependent manner. Notably, CUR alleviated TBHP-induced interruption of autophagosome-lysosome fusion and impairment of lysosomal function and thus contributed to the restoration of blocked autophagic clearance. These protective effects of CUR in TBHP-stimulated human NP cells resembled the effects produced by the autophagy inducer rapamycin, but the effects were partially eliminated by 3-methyladenine- and compound C-mediated inhibition of autophagy initiation or chloroquine-mediated obstruction of autophagic flux. Lastly, CUR also exerted a protective effect against puncture-induced IDD progression in vivo. Our results showed that suppression of excessive ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction through enhancement of autophagy coupled with restoration of autophagic flux ameliorated TBHP-induced human NP cell apoptosis, senescence, and ECM degradation. Thus, maintenance of the proper functioning of autophagy represents a promising therapeutic strategy for IDD, and CUR might serve as an effective therapeutic agent for IDD.

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Protective Effect of Polygonatum sibiricum Polysaccharides on Apoptosis, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Nucleus Pulposus Cells of Rats with the Degeneration of the Intervertebral Disc

International Journal of Polymer Science ◽

10.1155/2019/8925807 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zhaohui Zhai ◽

Zhaoxin Li ◽

Zhonglei Ji ◽

Xiaosheng Lu

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Rat Model ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Discs ◽

New Drugs ◽

Nucleus Pulposus Cells ◽

And Oxidative Stress

Objective. Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PSP) has antioxidant activity, immune enhancement, and other biological properties. However, the effect of PSP on intervertebral disc degeneration has not been reported. In this study, we mainly investigated the effect of PSP on the apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) during the process of intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods. A rat NPC model induced by H2O2 was constructed. The CCK8 method was used to measure the effects of PSP on the apoptosis of rat NPCs induced by H2O2. The effects on the activity of SOD and content of MDA were also determined. The rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration was treated with PSP for 1 month, and the mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, COX2, iNOS, Col2α1, Col10α1, and MMP3 were measured by qPCR in the tissue of intervertebral disc. NPCs from the degenerated intervertebral discs were separated, and the cell viability was measured by the CCK8 method. The contents of SOD and MDA in NPCs were determined as well. Results. PSP significantly reduced the apoptosis of NPCs induced by H2O2, significantly increased the SOD content, and decreased the content of MDA in H2O2-induced NPCs. The expression level of IL-1β, COX2, and iNOS in the rat model with intervertebral disc degeneration was significantly downregulated after 1 month of PSP treatment. PSP treatment increased the expression of Col2α1 type and significantly decreased the expression of Col10α1 type collagen and MMP3 in rats with disc degeneration. PSP treatment significantly reduced NPC apoptosis and increased its SOD content and reduced MDA content, which is consistent with the results from cell-level experiments. Conclusion. PSP can effectively reduce the apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of H2O2-induced NPCs in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration and mitigate the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration, which has the potential to be developed as new drugs for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.

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Involvement of oxidative stress‐induced annulus fibrosus cell and nucleus pulposus cell ferroptosis in intervertebral disc degeneration pathogenesis

Journal of Cellular Physiology ◽

10.1002/jcp.30039 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Run‐Ze Yang ◽

Wen‐Ning Xu ◽

Huo‐Liang Zheng ◽

Xin‐Feng Zheng ◽

Bo Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Annulus Fibrosus ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Nucleus Pulposus Cell ◽

Annulus Fibrosus Cell

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Estradiol Alleviates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration through Modulating the Antioxidant Enzymes and Inhibiting Autophagy in the Model of Menopause Rats

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2018/7890291 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lin-Yu Jin ◽

Zhen-Dong Lv ◽

Kun Wang ◽

Lie Qian ◽

Xiao-Xing Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Redox Balance ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Ovx Rats ◽

High Level

Objective. To investigate the effects of menopause on redox balance in the intervertebral disc and to examine whether oxidative stress and autophagy were associated with disc degeneration in menopause rats. Methods. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (sham, ovariectomized with vehicle, and ovariectomized with estrogen). At the end of the 3-month treatment, the rats were examined by 3.0 T MRI. Serum estradiol (E2) level was measured. Redox balance of nucleus pulposus was determined by measuring total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemical staining, and Western blot were used to determine the nucleus pulposus autophagy level. At the same time, Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to describe the relationship between intervertebral disc grade, oxidative stress status, serum E2, and autophagy level. Results. The level of serum E2 was significantly decreased by ovariectomy and can be corrected by the estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). In OVX rats, an increased oxidative stress and high level of autophagy were observed in nucleus pulposus tissue. ERT prevented the intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), restored the redox balance, and reduced autophagy level. Conclusion. Ovariectomy induced oxidative stress, autophagy, and intervertebral disc degeneration. Autophagy of the intervertebral disc was negatively correlated with oxidative stress, and the level of autophagy can be reduced by ERT through modulating the redox balance and downregulating the autophagy level. Regulating the redox balance of IVD may be a potential therapeutic option for degeneration of the disc in the postmenopausal women.

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