scholarly journals Mechano growth factor attenuates mechanical overload-induced nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis through inhibiting the p38 MAPK pathway

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Xu ◽  
Haolin Fang ◽  
Liang Zhao ◽  
Cunxin Zhang ◽  
Luo Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway ◽  
Mechanical Overload

Abstract Mechanical overload is a risk factor of disc degeneration. It can induce disc degeneration through mediating cell apoptosis. Mechano growth factor (MGF) has been reported to inhibit mechanical overload-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes. The present study is aimed to investigate whether MGF can attenuate mechanical overload-induced nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis and the possible signaling transduction pathway. Rat NP cells were cultured and subjected to mechanical overload for 7 days. The control NP cells did not experience mechanical load. The exogenous MGF peptide was added into the culture medium to investigate its protective effects. NP cell apoptosis ratio, caspase-3 activity, gene expression of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3, protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, Bax and Bcl-2 were analyzed to evaluate NP cell apoptosis. In addition, activity of the p38 MAPK pathway was also detected. Compared with the control NP cells, mechanical overload significantly increased NP cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity, up-regulated gene/protein expression of pro-apoptosis molecules (i.e. Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP) whereas down-regulated gene/protein expression of anti-apoptosis molecule (i.e. Bcl-2). However, exogenous MGF partly reversed these effects of mechanical overload on NP cell apoptosis. Further results showed that activity of the p38 MAPK pathway of NP cells cultured under mechanical overload was decreased by addition of MGF peptide. In conclusion, MGF is able to attenuate mechanical overload-induced NP cell apoptosis, and the p38 MAPK signaling pathway may be involved in this process. The present study provides that MGF supplementation may be a promising strategy to retard mechanical overload-induced disc degeneration.

scholarly journals Osteogenic protein-1 attenuates apoptosis and enhances matrix synthesis of nucleus pulposus cells under high magnitude compression though inhibiting the p38 MAPK pathway

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haolin Fang ◽  
Xianzhou Li ◽  
Haiming Shen ◽  
Buwei Sun ◽  
Haijun Teng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
High Magnitude ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway ◽  
Regulated Expression ◽  
Osteogenic Protein

Disc degeneration is correlated with mechanical load. Osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) is potential to regenerate degenerative disc. To investigate whether OP-1 can protect against high magitude compression-induced nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis and NP matrix catabolism, and its potential mechanism; porcine discs were cultured in a bioreactor and compressed at a relatively high-magnitude mechanical compression (1.3 MPa at a frequency of 1.0 Hz for 2 h once per day) for 7 days. OP-1 was added along with the culture medium to investigate the protective effects of OP-1. NP cell apoptosis and matrix biosynthesis were evaluated. Additionally, activity of the p38 MAPK pathway is also analyzed. Compared with the control group, high magnitude compression significantly promoted NP cell apoptosis and decreased NP matrix biosynthesis, reflected by the increase in the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and caspase-3 activity, the up-regulated expression of Bax and caspase-3 mRNA and down-regulated expression of Bcl-2 mRNA, and the decreased Alcian Blue staining intensity and expression of matrix proteins (aggrecan and collagen II). However, OP-1 addition partly attenuated the effects of high magnitude compression on NP cell apoptosis and NP matrix biosynthesis. Further analysis showed that inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway partly participated in this process. OP-1 can attenuate high magnitude compression-induced NP cell apoptosis and promoted NP matrix biosynthesis, and inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway may participate in this regulatory process. The present study provides that OP-1 may be efficient in retarding mechanical overloading-exacerbated disc degeneration.

scholarly journals Aquaporin-3 Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Nucleus Pulposus Cell Apoptosis Through Regulating the P38 MAPK Pathway

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 1687-1697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yichun Xu ◽  
Hui Yao ◽  
Qiyou Wang ◽  
Wenbin Xu ◽  
Kaihua Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Oxidative Damage ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Aquaporin 3 ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway ◽  
Intracellular Ros ◽  
Cellular Apoptosis

Background/Aims: Previous studies have shown that oxidative damage is a main contributor to disc nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis. Aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) facilitates reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and thus alleviates oxidative injury in other cells. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of AQP-3 in regulating NP cell apoptosis under oxidative damage. Methods: Rat NP cells were treated with H2O2 for 48 hours, while control NP cells were free of H2O2. Recombinant AQP-3 lentiviral vectors were used to investigate the effect of enhanced AQP-3 expression levels in NP cells. NP cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, caspase-3 activity, gene expression of apoptosis-related molecules (Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3), and protein expression of cellular apoptosis markers (cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3). Additionally, intracellular ROS content and activity of the p38 MAPK pathway were evaluated. Results: Compared with the control NP cells, oxidative damage in the treatment cells significantly increased cell apoptosis ratios and caspase-3 activity, upregulated gene expression of Bax and caspase-3, downregulated gene expression of Bcl-2, and increased protein expression of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3, as well as increased intracellular ROS content and activity of the p38 MAPK pathway. However, AQP-3 overexpression partly alleviated cell apoptosis, decreased intracellular ROS content, and inhibited the p38 MAPK pathway in NP cells under oxidative damage. Conclusion: Oxidative damage can significantly downregulate AQP-3 expression. Enhancing AQP-3 expression in NP cells partly attenuates cellular apoptosis through regulating the p38 MAPK pathway under oxidative damage.

scholarly journals Inflammatory cytokines induce caveolin-1/β-catenin signalling in rat nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis through the p38 MAPK pathway

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianxi Wang ◽  
Huajiang Chen ◽  
Peng Cao ◽  
Xiaodong Wu ◽  
Fazhi Zang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus Cell ◽  
Caveolin 1 ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway

scholarly journals Transforming growth factor-β1-regulated Fas/FasL pathway activation suppresses nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis in an inflammatory environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Xie ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Bing Yao ◽  
Pingchao Zhang ◽  
Lixin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Gene And Protein Expression ◽  
Tgf Β1

Abstract Background: During disc degeneration, inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is correlated with nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 has the potential to regenerate degenerative disc. Objective: To investigate the protective role of TGF-β1 against TNF-α-mediated NP cell apoptosis and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Rat NP cells were treated with TNF-α (100 ng/ml) for 48 h. TGF-β1 was added into the culture medium to investigate its protective effects against TNF-α-induced NP cell apoptosis. Exogenous FasL was used to investigate the potential role of the Fas/FasL pathway in this process. Flow cytometry assay was used to analyze NP cell apoptosis. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to analyze gene and protein expression of apoptosis-related molecules. Results: In TNF-α-treated NP cells, TGF-β1 significantly decreased NP cell apoptosis, declined caspase-3 and -8 activity, and decreased expression of Bax and caspase-3 (cleaved-caspase-3) but increased expression of Bcl-2. However, exogenous FasL partly reversed these effects of TGF-β1 in NP cells treated with TNF-α. Additionally, expression of Fas and FasL in TNF-α-treated NP cells partly decreased by TGF-β1, whereas exogenous FasL increased expression of Fas and FasL in NP cells treated with TGF-β1 and TNF-α. Conclusion: TGF-β1 helps to inhibit TNF-α-induced NP cell apoptosis and the Fas/FasL pathway may be involved in this process. The present study suggests that TGF-β1 may be effective to retard inflammation-mediated disc degeneration.

scholarly journals Melatonin Suppresses Apoptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells through Inhibiting Autophagy via the PI3K/Akt Pathway in a High-Glucose Culture

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jian Li ◽  
Chengqiang Wang ◽  
Lixin Xue ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Jianqiang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
High Glucose ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Diabetes mellitus- (DM-) associated hyperglycemia promotes apoptosis of disc nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, which is a contributor to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Melatonin is able to protect against cell apoptosis. However, its effects on apoptosis of NP cell in a high-glucose culture remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of melatonin on NP cell apoptosis in a high-glucose culture. NP cells were cultured in the baseline medium supplemented with a high-glucose concentration (0.2 M) for 3 days. The control cells were only cultured in the baseline medium. Additionally, the pharmaceutical inhibitor LY294002 was added along with the culture medium to investigate the possible role of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Apoptosis, autophagy, and activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway of NP cells among these groups were evaluated. Compared with the control NP cells, high glucose significantly increased cell apoptosis ratio and caspase-3/caspase-9 activity and decreased mRNA expression of Bcl-2, whereas it increased mRNA or protein expression of Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and autophagy-related molecules (Atg3, Atg5, Beclin-1, and LC3-II) and decreased protein expression of p-Akt compared with the control cells. Additionally, melatonin partly inhibited the effects of high glucose on those parameters of cell apoptosis, autophagy, and activation of PI3K/Akt. In conclusion, melatonin attenuates apoptosis of NP cells through inhibiting the excessive autophagy via the PI3K/Akt pathway in a high-glucose culture. This study provides new theoretical basis of the protective effects of melatonin against disc degeneration in a DM patient.

scholarly journals Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang Inhibits Aβ25-35-Induced Apoptosis in Primary Cultured Rat Hippocampal Neuronal Cells via the p38 MAPK Pathway: An Experimental Validation and Network Pharmacology Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Tian-Qi Wang ◽  
Xiao-Xiao Lai ◽  
Lu-Ting Xu ◽  
Yan Shen ◽  
Jian-Wei Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Viability ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Neuronal Cells ◽  
Neuronal Morphology ◽  
Cell Counting ◽  
Network Pharmacology ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway

Qingxin kaiqiao fang (QKF), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, has been applied to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for many years and has exhibited remarkable effects. However, the underlying mechanism is still not explicit. The current study aims to investigate whether QKF exerts an antiapoptotic role through the p38 MAPK pathway in the course of AD. Network pharmacology analysis was applied to study the effective components, possible therapeutic targets, and AD-related pathway of QKF. Further, the AD cell model was established using amyloid-beta (Aβ)25-35 peptide and primary hippocampal neuronal cells extracted from newborn Sprague-Dawley rats. Microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) imaging was used to detect the morphology of hippocampal neurons. Western blot (WB) analysis was applied to detect the protein expression levels of p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-3. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively. SB203580 and U46619 were used to detect changes in cell morphology, cell viability, and apoptosis upon inhibiting or activating p38 MAPK. Our present work showed that QKF protects hippocampal neuronal morphology, enhances cell viability, and reduces the number of TUNEL-positive cells. In addition, our results showed that QKF increased the expression levels of antiapoptotic proteins and decreased the expression of proapoptotic proteins. QKF at 25 mg·mL−1 best inhibited neuronal apoptosis among the three doses of QKF by suppressing p38 MAPK activity. Collectively, QKF plays an antiapoptotic role via the p38 MAPK pathway.

Enhanced GRP78 protein expression via the IRE1α/ASK1/p38 MAPK pathway during As2O3-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in BEAS-2B cells

Toxicology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 462 ◽  
pp. 152962
Author(s):  
Jiaming Yuan ◽  
Chenjuan Yao ◽  
Jing Tang ◽  
Yingqi Liu ◽  
Chunyan Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway

scholarly journals Resveratrol inhibits IL-1β-mediated nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis through regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhai Jiang ◽  
Zhijie Xie ◽  
Jinying Yu ◽  
Lianqiang Fu
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokine ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Signal Transduction Pathway ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Apoptosis Ratio

Abstract Nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis is a classical cellular character during intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Previous studies have shown that inflammatory cytokine-induced NP cell apoptosis plays an important role in disc degeneration. The present study was aimed to investigate whether resveratrol can suppress IL-1β-mediated NP cell apoptosis and the potential signal transduction pathway. Experimental rat NP cells were treated with culture medium containing IL-1β (20 ng/ml) for 7 days. Control NP cells were cultured in the baseline medium. Resveratrol was added along with culture medium to investigate its effects. The inhibitor LY294002 was used to study the role of the PI3K/Akt pathway. NP cell apoptosis was reflected by the caspase-3 activity, cell apoptosis ratio, and expression of apoptosis-related molecules (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP). Compared with the control NP cells, IL-1β significantly increased caspase-3 activity, NP cell apoptosis ratio and mRNA/protein expression of Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, but decreased mRNA expression of Bcl-2. However, resveratrol partly suppressed the effects of IL-1β on those cell apoptosis-related parameters. Further analysis showed that IL-1β significantly decreased activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway whereas resveratrol partly increased activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway in NP cells treated with IL-1β. Additionally, when the inhibitor LY294002 was added along with the resveratrol, its protective effects against IL-1β-induced NP cell apoptosis were attenuated. In conclusion, resveratrol suppresses IL-1β-mediated NP cell apoptosis through activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Resveratrol may be an effective drug to attenuate inflammatory cytokine-induced disc degenerative changes.

Abstract 13202: LncRNA-MAP3K4 Regulates Vascular Inflammation Through a P38 MAPK Signaling Pathway and Cis -modulation of MAP3K4

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
HaoYang Zhou ◽  
Viorel Simion ◽  
Jacob Pierce ◽  
Mark W Feinberg
Keyword(s):  
Protein Expression ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Vessel Wall ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Vascular Inflammation ◽  
Bidirectional Promoter ◽  
P38 Mapk Pathway ◽  
Mrna And Protein Expression ◽  
Aortic Intima

Introduction: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging regulators of biological processes in the vessel wall; however, their role in vascular inflammation remains poorly understood. Hypothesis: Identification of inflammation-responsive lncRNAs expressed in the aortic intima may provide novel mechanistic insights in vascular inflammation. Methods: Using RNA-Seq profiling to identify a lncRNA derived specifically from the aortic intima of atherosclerotic mice, we discovered an inflammation-responsive lncRNA, lncRNA-MAP3K4, and evaluated its role in the mechanisms mediating vascular cell inflammation. Results: Aortic expression of lncRNA-MAP3K4 , an intima-enriched and polyadenylated lncRNA , was reduced by 50% with atherosclerotic progression and by 75% following LPS-induced endotoxemia in mice. GapmeR-mediated silencing of lncRNA-MAP3K4 potently reduced mRNA and protein expression of adhesion molecules or chemokines (e.g. ICAM-1, E-selectin, MCP-1) in endothelial cells via a p38-MAPK pathway, and decreased PBMC adhesion to endothelium by 40%. Moreover, lncRNA-MAP3K4 knockdown also reduced inflammatory markers in vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Analyzing the lncRNA-MAP3K4 locus, we found MAP3K4, an upstream kinase of the MAPK cascade, shared the promoter region with lncRNA-MAP3K4. In vitro and in vivo, lncRNA-MAP3K4 and MAP3K4 showed parallel inflammation-responsive expression patterns. lncRNA-MAP3K4 knockdown reduced mRNA and protein expression of MAP3K4 in cis in vessel wall cell types. ChIP-seq data showed chromatin modifications and bidirectional promoter characteristics in the lncRNA-MAP3K4/ MAP3K4 promoter region. MAP3K4 knockdown showed a similar anti-inflammation phenotype as lncRNA-MAP3K4 via a p38-MAPK pathway and cooperativity with lncRNA-MAP3K4 . Conclusions: Deficiency of lncRNA-MAP3K4 markedly reduced inflammation in vascular cells via a p38-MAPK pathway and cis -regulation of MAP3K4 from a shared bidirectional promoter. This study illustrated a divergently transcribed lncRNA/protein-coding gene pair involved in vascular inflammation and more broadly informs a better understanding of mammalian genome regulatory mechanisms in vascular disease states.

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