scholarly journals Identification of key potential targets for TNF-α/TNFR1-related intervertebral disc degeneration by bioinformatics analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junmin Hong ◽  
Jiansen Yan ◽  
Jiancong Chen ◽  
Shuangxing Li ◽  
Yingjie Huang ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue-Lin Lin ◽  
Zhao-Yun Zheng ◽  
Qing-Shan Zhang ◽  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
You-Zhi An

Abstract Objective To investigate the expression of miR-195 and its target gene Bcl-2 in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and its effect on nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis. Methods The expressions of miR-195 and Bcl-2 in NP tissues of IVDD patients were quantified by qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. NP cells were divided into blank group, TNF-α group, TNF-α + miR-NC group, TNF-α + siBcl-2 group, and TNF-α + miR-195 inhibitors + siBcl-2 group. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, cell apoptosis evaluated by flow cytometry, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) tested by JC-1 staining. Moreover, the function of miR-195 on IVDD in vivo was investigated using a puncture-induced IVDD rat model. Results IVDD patients had significantly increased miR-195 expression and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression in NP tissues. The expression of miR-195 was negatively correlated with the expression of Bcl-2 in IVDD patients. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that Bcl-2 was a target gene of miR-195. In comparison with blank group, TNF-α group showed decreased cell proliferation and MMP, increased cell apoptosis, upregulated expression of miR-195, Bax, and cleaved caspase 3, and downregulated Bcl-2 protein, while these changes were attenuated by miR-195 inhibitors. Additionally, siBcl-2 can reverse the protective effect of miR-195 inhibitors on TNF-α-induced NP cells. Besides, inhibition of miR-195 alleviated IVDD degeneration and NP cell apoptosis in the rat model. Conclusion MiR-195 was significantly upregulated in NP tissues of IVDD patients, and inhibition of miR-195 could protect human NP cells from TNF-α-induced apoptosis via upregulation of Bcl-2.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 341-350
Author(s):  
Zhao-Juan Er ◽  
Chun-Fang Yin ◽  
Wen-Jing Wang ◽  
Xue-Jun Chen

This study aimed to examine whether stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) or C-X-C chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) participates in the development of lumbar disc degeneration, as implicated earlier by the level of CXCL12 correlating with this disease. It enrolled 145 patients with symptomatic lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and 130 asymptomatic healthy controls with no indication of IDD. Radiological assessment of the IDD patients was targeted at the lumbar vertebra region, based on Pfirrmann grade. Degeneration of the multifidus and psoas major muscles was evaluated using Goutallier classification. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were obtained for assessing the severity of manifestation. The levels of serum CXCL12, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by ROC curve analysis, resulting in their prognostic value for Pfirrmann grading. Higher levels of serum CXCL12 were found in patients with IDD than in asymptomatic individuals, and were positively related to the Pfirrmann grade as well as multifidus muscle degeneration. Furthermore, serum CXCL12 concentration showed a significant correlation with the VAS and ODI scores. In addition, elevated serum CXCL12 levels were related to serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6. The ROC curve analysis implicated that CXCL12 could function as a biomarker of the early-mediate phase of IDD development. In summary, the serum CXCL12/SDF-1 level is positively related with lumbar IDD and its clinical severity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Long ◽  
Xiaobo Wang ◽  
Xianfa Du ◽  
Hehai Pan ◽  
Jianru Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD)-related disorders are the major causes of low back pain. A previous study suggested that Notch activation serves as a protective mechanism and is a part of the compensatory response that maintains the necessary resident nucleus pulposus (NP) cell proliferation to replace lost or non-functional cells. However, the exact mechanism remains to be determined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of JAG2/Notch2 in NP cell proliferation and apoptosis. Methods Recombinant JAG2 or Notch2, Hes1, and Hey2 siRNAs were used to activate or inhibit Notch signaling. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulatory factors, and pathways associated with Notch-mediated proliferation were examined. In vivo experiments involving an intradiscal injection of Sprague-Dawley rats were performed. Results Recombinant JAG2 induced Notch2 and Hes1/Hey2 expression together with NP cell proliferation. Downregulation of Notch2/Hes1/Hey2 induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in NP cells. Moreover, Notch2 mediated NP cell proliferation by regulating cyclin D1 and by activating PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, Notch signaling inhibited TNF-α-promoted NP cell apoptosis by suppressing the formation of the RIP1-FADD-caspase-8 complex. Finally, we found that intradiscal injection of JAG2 alleviated IVDD and that sh-Notch2 aggravated IVDD in a rat model. These results indicated that JAG2/Notch2 inhibited IVDD by modulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix. The JAG2/Notch2 axis regulated NP cell proliferation via PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and inhibited TNF-α-induced apoptosis by suppressing the formation of the RIP1-FADD-caspase-8 complex. Conclusions The current and previous results shed light on the therapeutic implications of targeting the JAG2/Notch2 axis to inhibit or reverse IVDD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Shaoyi Wang ◽  
Jianlu Wei ◽  
Jie Shi ◽  
Qiting He ◽  
Xiaocong Zhou ◽  
...  

Background. Inflammation plays an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The protein follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) plays a proinflammatory role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether IDD could be delayed by inhibiting FSTL-1 expression. Methods. We established a puncture-induced IDD model in wild-type and FSTL-1+/- mice and collected intervertebral discs (IVDs) from the mice. Safranin O staining was used to detect cartilage loss of IVD tissue, and HE staining was used to detect morphological changes of IVD tissue. We measured the expression of FSTL-1 and related inflammatory indicators in IVD tissues by immunohistochemical staining, real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Results. In the age-induced model of IDD, the level of FSTL-1 increased with the exacerbation of degeneration. In the puncture-induced IDD model, FSTL-1-knockdown mice showed a reduced degree of degeneration compared with that of wild-type mice. Further experiments showed that FSTL-1 knockdown also significantly reduced the level of related inflammatory factors in IVD. In vitro experiments showed that FSTL-1 knockdown significantly reduced TNF-α-induced inflammation. Specifically, the expression levels of the inflammatory factors COX-2, iNOS, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-5 were reduced. Knockdown of FSTL-1 attenuated inflammation by inhibiting the expression of P-Smad1/5/8, P-Erk1/2, and P-P65. Conclusion. Knockdown of FSTL-1 attenuated inflammation by inhibiting the TNF-α response and Smad pathway activity and ultimately delayed IDD.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiling Yuan ◽  
Xinyi Wang ◽  
Liang Liu ◽  
Yongsong Cai ◽  
Xiaoming Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as novel drug and gene delivery tools. Current study aimed to elucidate the potential therapeutic role of human placental MSC (hPLMSC)-derived exosomes carrying antagomiR-4450 (EXO-antagomiR-4450) in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) progression. Methods Initially, the differentially expressed miRNAs related to IDD were identified by microarray analysis which provided data predicting the interaction between miR-4450 and ZNF121 in IDD. Next, miR-4450 and ZNF121 were elevated or silenced to determine their effects on the damage of NPCs treated with TNF-α. The therapeutic effects of EXO-antagomiR-4450 on nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were verified both in vitro and in vivo, especially gait analysis and fluorescent molecular tomopraphy were used in live IDD mice. Results Our results revealed that miR-4450 was highly expressed, while ZNF121 was poorly expressed in IDD patients and NPCs treated with TNF-α. Furthermore, miR-4450 was identified to specifically target ZNF121. Additionally, the inhibition of miR-4450 exerted an alleviatory effect on the inflammation, apoptosis and damage of the NPCs by up-regulating ZNF121. Moreover, EXO-antagomiR-4450 retarded damage of NPCs in vitro, alleviated IDD damage and ameliorated gait abnormality in vivo. Conclusion hPLMSC-derived exosomes could be a feasible nanovehicle to deliver inhibitory oligonucleotides like antagomiR-4450 in IDD.


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