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Lin Y, Zhang L, Ji M, Shen S, Chen Y, Wu S, Wu X, Liu NQ, Lu J. MiR-653-5p drives osteoarthritis pathogenesis by modulating chondrocyte senescence. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:111. [PMID: 38812033 PMCID: PMC11134905 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03334-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the unclear pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA), effective treatment for this ailment is presently unavailable. Accumulating evidence points to chondrocyte senescence as a key driver in OA development. This study aims to identify OA-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting chondrocyte senescence to alleviate OA progression. METHODS We screened and identified miRNAs differentially expressed in OA and normal cartilage, then confirmed the impact of miR-653-5p on chondrocyte functions and senescence phenotypes through in vitro experiments with overexpression/silencing. We identified interleukin 6 (IL-6) as the target gene of miR-653-5p and confirmed the regulatory influence of miR-653-5p on the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway through gain/loss-of-function studies. Finally, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of miR-653-5p on OA using a mouse model with destabilization of the medial meniscus. RESULTS MiR-653-5p was significantly downregulated in cartilage tissues and chondrocytes from OA patients. Overexpression of miR-653-5p promoted chondrocyte matrix synthesis and proliferation while inhibiting chondrocyte senescence. Furthermore, bioinformatics target prediction and the luciferase reporter assays identified IL-6 as a target of miR-653-5p. Western blot assays demonstrated that miR-653-5p overexpression inhibited the protein expression of IL-6, the phosphorylation of JAK1 and STAT3, and the expression of chondrocyte senescence phenotypes by regulating the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. More importantly, the cartilage destruction was significantly alleviated and chondrocyte senescence phenotypes were remarkably decreased in the OA mouse model treated by agomiR-653-5p compared to the control mice. CONCLUSIONS MiR-653-5p showed a significant decrease in cartilage tissues of individuals with OA, leading to an upregulation of chondrocyte senescence phenotypes in the articular cartilage. AgomiR-653-5p emerges as a potential treatment approach for OA. These findings provide further insight into the role of miR-653-5p in chondrocyte senescence and the pathogenesis of OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Lin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingliang Ji
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Sinuo Shen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuzhi Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shichao Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wayne State University of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Xiaotao Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Nancy Q Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Chen X, Chen K, Hu J, Dong Y, Zheng M, Jiang J, Hu Q, Zhang W. Palmitic acid induces lipid droplet accumulation and senescence in nucleus pulposus cells via ER-stress pathway. Commun Biol 2024; 7:539. [PMID: 38714886 PMCID: PMC11076507 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06248-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder affecting millions of adults worldwide, but a poor understanding of its pathogenesis has limited the effectiveness of therapy. In the current study, we integrated untargeted LC/MS metabolomics and magnetic resonance spectroscopy data to investigate metabolic profile alterations during IDD. Combined with validation via a large-cohort analysis, we found excessive lipid droplet accumulation in the nucleus pulposus cells of advanced-stage IDD samples. We also found abnormal palmitic acid (PA) accumulation in IDD nucleus pulposus cells, and PA exposure resulted in lipid droplet accumulation and cell senescence in an endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent manner. Complementary transcriptome and proteome profiles enabled us to identify solute carrier transporter (SLC) 43A3 involvement in the regulation of the intracellular PA level. SLC43A3 was expressed at low levels and negatively correlated with intracellular lipid content in IDD nucleus pulposus cells. Overexpression of SLC43A3 significantly alleviated PA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress, lipid droplet accumulation and cell senescence by inhibiting PA uptake. This work provides novel integration analysis-based insight into the metabolic profile alterations in IDD and further reveals new therapeutic targets for IDD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Jun Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Yijun Dong
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Menglong Zheng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Jiang Jiang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Qingsong Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China.
| | - Wenzhi Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China.
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Zou X, Zhang X, Han S, Wei L, Zheng Z, Wang Y, Xin J, Zhang S. Pathogenesis and therapeutic implications of matrix metalloproteinases in intervertebral disc degeneration: A comprehensive review. Biochimie 2023; 214:27-48. [PMID: 37268183 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a common disorder that affects the spine and is a major cause of lower back pain (LBP). The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the structural foundation of the biomechanical properties of IVD, and its degradation is the main pathological characteristic of IDD. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of endopeptidases that play an important role in the degradation and remodeling of the ECM. Several recent studies have shown that the expression and activity of many MMP subgroups are significantly upregulated in degenerated IVD tissue. This upregulation of MMPs results in an imbalance of ECM anabolism and catabolism, leading to the degradation of the ECM and the development of IDD. Therefore, the regulation of MMP expression is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of IDD. Recent research has focused on identifying the mechanisms by which MMPs cause ECM degradation and promote IDD, as well as on developing therapies that target MMPs. In summary, MMP dysregulation is a crucial factor in the development of IDD, and a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved is needed to develop effective biological therapies that target MMPs to treat IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosong Zou
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xingmin Zhang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Song Han
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lin Wei
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Zhi Zheng
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yongjie Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jingguo Xin
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Shaokun Zhang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, 130021, China.
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Ouyang X, Ding Y, Yu L, Xin F, Yang X, Liu X, Tong S. Circular RNA CircDHRS3 Aggravates IL-1β-induced ECM Degradation, Apoptosis, and Inflammatory Response via Mediating MECP2 Expression. Inflammation 2023; 46:1670-1683. [PMID: 37340152 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-023-01832-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported that circular RNA hsa_circ_0010024 (circDHRS3), microRNA (miR)-193a-3p, and Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) are unconventionally expressed in osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage samples. However, the regulatory mechanisms among circDHRS3, miR-193a-3p, and MECP2 in OA pathogenesis are unclear. Changes of circDHRS3, miR-193a-3p, and MECP2 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. Several protein levels were evaluated using western blotting. Cell proliferation was analyzed by 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and cell counting assays. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry assay. Detection of pro-inflammatory cytokines was conducted using ELISA. The relationship between circDHRS3 or MECP2 and miR-193a-3p was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. We verified that circDHRS3 and MECP2 were overexpressed in OA cartilage samples, whereas miR-193a-3p was downregulated. CircDHRS3 silencing weakened IL-1β-induced chondrocyte cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, apoptosis, and inflammatory response. CircDHRS3 adsorbed miR-193a-3p to modulate MECP2 expression. Also, silencing of miR-193a-3p impaired circDHRS3 silencing-mediated suppression on IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury. Also, MECP2 overexpression alleviated miR-193a-3p mimic-mediated inhibition on IL-1β-prompted chondrocyte injury. CircDHRS3 silencing reduced MECP2 expression via sponging miR-193a-3p, thereby weakening IL-1β-induced chondrocyte ECM degradation, apoptosis, and inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ouyang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, No.131, Huancheng Road, Gulou, Xuzhou, 221005, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yunzhi Ding
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, No.131, Huancheng Road, Gulou, Xuzhou, 221005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, No.131, Huancheng Road, Gulou, Xuzhou, 221005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Xin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, No.131, Huancheng Road, Gulou, Xuzhou, 221005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaowei Yang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, No.131, Huancheng Road, Gulou, Xuzhou, 221005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingyong Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, No.131, Huancheng Road, Gulou, Xuzhou, 221005, Jiangsu, China
| | - Songming Tong
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xuzhou Third People's Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, No.131, Huancheng Road, Gulou, Xuzhou, 221005, Jiangsu, China
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Zhang Z, Huo J, Ji X, Wei L, Zhang J. GREM1, LRPPRC and SLC39A4 as potential biomarkers of intervertebral disc degeneration: a bioinformatics analysis based on multiple microarray and single-cell sequencing data. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2023; 24:729. [PMID: 37700277 PMCID: PMC10498557 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06854-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low back pain (LBP) has drawn much widespread attention and is a major global health concern. In this field, intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is frequently the focus of classic studies. However, the mechanistic foundation of IVDD is unclear and has led to conflicting outcomes. METHODS Gene expression profiles (GSE34095, GSE147383) of IVDD patients alongside control groups were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the GEO database. GSE23130 and GSE70362 were applied to validate the yielded key genes from DEGs by means of a best subset selection regression. Four machine-learning models were established to assess their predictive ability. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to profile the correlation between overall immune infiltration levels with Thompson grades and key genes. The upstream targeting miRNAs of key genes (GSE63492) were also analyzed. A single-cell transcriptome sequencing data (GSE160756) was used to define several cell clusters of nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and cartilaginous endplate (CEP) of human intervertebral discs and the distribution of key genes in different cell clusters was yielded. RESULTS By developing appropriate p-values and logFC values, a total of 6 DEGs was obtained. 3 key genes (LRPPRC, GREM1, and SLC39A4) were validated by an externally validated predictive modeling method. The ssGSEA results indicated that key genes were correlated with the infiltration abundance of multiple immune cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages. Accordingly, these 4 key miRNAs (miR-103a-3p, miR-484, miR-665, miR-107) were identified as upstream regulators targeting key genes using the miRNet database and external GEO datasets. Finally, the spatial distribution of key genes in AF, CEP, and NP was plotted. Pseudo-time series and GSEA analysis indicated that the expression level of GREM1 and the differentiation trajectory of NP chondrocytes are generally consistent. GREM1 may mainly exacerbate the degeneration of NP cells in IVDD. CONCLUSIONS Our study gives a novel perspective for identifying reliable and effective gene therapy targets in IVDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- ZhaoLiang Zhang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - JianZhong Huo
- Taiyuan Central Hospital, Ninth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Southern Fendong Road 256, Taiyuan, ShanXi, 030009, China.
| | - XingHua Ji
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - LinDong Wei
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Jinfeng Zhang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
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Xiong L, Li X, Hua X, Qian Z. Circ-STC2 promotes the ferroptosis of nucleus pulposus cells via targeting miR-486-3p/TFR2 axis. J Orthop Surg Res 2023; 18:518. [PMID: 37480032 PMCID: PMC10362726 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-023-04010-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low back pain (LBP) has become the second leading cause of disability worldwide, which has brought great economic burden to people. It is generally believed that intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the main cause of LBP. This study aimed to explore the role of circ-STC2 in the pathogenesis of IDD. METHODS Nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were treated with T-Butyl Hydrogen Peroxide (TBHP) to establish IDD model in vitro. RT-qPCR was performed to detect mRNA expressions. The cell viability was detected with CCK-8 assay. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), Fe2+ and glutathione (GSH) of NPCs were measured by corresponding kits. The protein expressions were determined by western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were conducted to verify the relationship between circ-STC2 or transferrin recepto 2 (TFR2) and miR-486-3p. RESULTS Circ-STC2 and TFR2 expressions were up-regulated in IDD tissues, and miR-486-3p expression was down-regulated. Knockdown of circ-STC2 promoted the cell viability and inhibited the ferroptosis of the NPCs. The GSH levels, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) protein expressions were increased, the LDH, MDA and Fe2+ levels and achaete-scute complexlike 4 (ASCL4) protein expressions were decreased after circ-STC2 knockdown. Knockdown of miR-486-3p abrogated the si-circ-STC2 effects and overexpression of TFR2 reversed the miR-486-3p mimic effects. CONCLUSIONS Circ-STC2 inhibits the cell viability, induced the ferroptosis of the TBHP treated NPCs via targeting miR-486-3p/TFR2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangping Xiong
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 899 Pinghai Road, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Jiande, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xi Hua
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 899 Pinghai Road, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhonglai Qian
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 899 Pinghai Road, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
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Stover JD, Trone MAR, Weston J, Lewis C, Levis H, Philippi M, Zeidan M, Lawrence B, Bowles RD. Therapeutic TNF-alpha Delivery After CRISPR Receptor Modulation in the Intervertebral Disc. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.31.542947. [PMID: 37398456 PMCID: PMC10312567 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.31.542947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Low back pain (LBP) ranks among the leading causes of disability worldwide and generates a tremendous socioeconomic cost. Disc degeneration, a leading contributor to LBP, can be characterized by the breakdown of the extracellular matrix of the intervertebral disc (IVD), disc height loss, and inflammation. The inflammatory cytokine TNF-α has multiple pathways and has been implicated as a primary mediator of disc degeneration. We tested our ability to regulate the multiple TNF-α inflammatory signaling pathways in vivo utilizing CRISPR receptor modulation to slow the progression of disc degeneration in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with CRISPRi-based epigenome-editing therapeutics targeting TNFR1 and showed a decrease in behavioral pain in a disc degeneration model. Surprisingly, while treatment with the vectors alone was therapeutic, TNF-α injection itself became therapeutic after TNFR1 modulation. These results suggest direct inflammatory receptor modulation, to harness beneficial inflammatory signaling pathways, as a potent strategy for treating disc degeneration.
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miR-4478 Accelerates Nucleus Pulposus Cells Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress by Targeting MTH1. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2023; 48:E54-E69. [PMID: 36130054 PMCID: PMC9897280 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the elderly population and is strongly associated with intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD). However, the precise molecular mechanisms regulating IVDD remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the role of differentially expressed miRNAs in the pathogenesis of IVDD. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed miRNA microarray datasets to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in IVDD progression and conducted quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis to further confirm the differential expression of miR-4478 in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues of patients diagnosed with IVDD. Using public databases of miRNA-mRNA interactions, we predicted the target genes of miR-4478, and subsequent flow cytometry and western blot analyses demonstrated the effect of MTH1 in H 2 O 2 -induced nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) apoptosis. Finally, miR-4478 inhibitor was injected into NP tissues of the IVDD mouse model to explore the effect of miR-4478 in vivo. RESULTS miR-4478 was upregulated in NP tissues from IVDD patients. Silencing of miR-4478 inhibits H 2 O 2 -induced NPCs apoptosis. MTH1 was identified as a target gene for miR-4478, and miR-4478 regulates H 2 O 2 -induced NPCs apoptosis by modulating MTH1. In addition, downregulation of miR-4478 alleviated IVDD in a mouse model. CONCLUSIONS In summary, our study provides evidence that miR-4478 may aggravate IVDD through its target gene MTH1 by accelerating oxidative stress in NPCs and demonstrates that miR-4478 has therapeutic potential in IVDD treatment.
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Meng D, Chen W, Pan C, Yang K, Guan Y, Wang J, Moro A, Wei Q, Jiang H. Exploration of microRNA-106b-5p as a therapeutic target in intervertebral disc degeneration: a preclinical study. Apoptosis 2023; 28:199-209. [PMID: 36308623 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-022-01773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) has emerge as a vital regulator in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, miR-106b-5p expression in the human nucleus pulposus (NP) and potential mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In this study, the aim was to verify the potential therapeutic mechanisms of miR-106b-5p for IDD. Key miRNAs were screened for in degenerative and normal human intervertebral disc samples. qRT-PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to verify the miR-106b-5p differential expression. The targeting link between miR-106b-5p and Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) was identified using the luciferase reporter assay and bioinformatics. Flow cytometry, EdU method, and cell scratching were all performed to determine the NP cell function and IDD models were constructed for in vivo experiments. SIRT2, MMP13, ADAMTS5, Col II, Aggrecan, Ras, ERK1/2, and p-ERK1/2 protein levels were assayed by western blotting. Overexpression of miR-106b-5p in NP cells decreased cell growth, induced apoptosis, hindered extracellular matrix formation, and increased the expression of matrix-degrading enzymes through the SIRT2/MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Importantly, intradiscal delivery of antagomiR-106b-5p significantly attenuated IDD development. Our findings demonstrate that targeting miR-106b-5p in intervertebral disc has therapeutic effects on IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dihua Meng
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Weiyou Chen
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Cheng Pan
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Kunxue Yang
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yewen Guan
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Abu Moro
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Qingjun Wei
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- Division of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
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10
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Wang Z, Liu B, Ma X, Wang Y, Han W, Xiang L. lncRNA ZFAS1 promotes intervertebral disc degeneration by upregulating AAK1. Open Med (Wars) 2022; 17:1973-1986. [PMID: 36561842 PMCID: PMC9743196 DOI: 10.1515/med-2022-0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the function of lncRNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) progression in vitro and in vivo. Nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues were obtained from 20 patients with IDD. IL-1β was used to stimulate primary NP cells to establish the IDD models in vitro. Gene expression was determined by RT-qPCR. 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and flow cytometry were performed to determine cell proliferation and apoptosis, and western blotting was conducted to measure the apoptosis- and extracellular matrix (ECM)-related protein expression. Luciferase reporter assay was used to examine the interactions between the genes. We also investigated the effect of ZFAS1 in a mouse model of IDD induced by needle punctures. Our results showed that ZFAS1 expression was elevated in degenerative NP tissues and IL-1β-treated NP cells. ZFAS1 knockdown inhibited NP cell apoptosis and ECM degradation induced by IL-1β. Mechanically, ZFAS1 sponged miR-4711-5p and adaptor-associated kinase 1 (AAK1) was targeted by miR-4711-5p. Furthermore, AAK1 overexpression partially eliminated the impact of ZFAS1 depletion on NP cell proliferation, apoptosis, and ECM degradation. More importantly, the results of the in vivo studies confirmed the effect of silencing ZFAS1 on alleviating the symptoms of IDD mice. Overall, silencing ZFAS1 inhibits IDD progression by reducing NP cell apoptosis and ECM degradation through the miR-4711-5p/AAK1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiangyu Ma
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenfeng Han
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83 Wenhua
Road, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Liangbi Xiang
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83 Wenhua
Road, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
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11
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Bahar ME, Hwang JS, Ahmed M, Lai TH, Pham TM, Elashkar O, Akter KM, Kim DH, Yang J, Kim DR. Targeting Autophagy for Developing New Therapeutic Strategy in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081571. [PMID: 36009290 PMCID: PMC9405341 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prevalent cause of low back pain. IVDD is characterized by abnormal expression of extracellular matrix components such as collagen and aggrecan. In addition, it results in dysfunctional growth, senescence, and death of intervertebral cells. The biological pathways involved in the development and progression of IVDD are not fully understood. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IVDD could aid in the development of strategies for prevention and treatment. Autophagy is a cellular process that removes damaged proteins and dysfunctional organelles, and its dysfunction is linked to a variety of diseases, including IVDD and osteoarthritis. In this review, we describe recent research findings on the role of autophagy in IVDD pathogenesis and highlight autophagy-targeting molecules which can be exploited to treat IVDD. Many studies exhibit that autophagy protects against and postpones disc degeneration. Further research is needed to determine whether autophagy is required for cell integrity in intervertebral discs and to establish autophagy as a viable therapeutic target for IVDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Entaz Bahar
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Jin Seok Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Mahmoud Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Trang Huyen Lai
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Trang Minh Pham
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Omar Elashkar
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Kazi-Marjahan Akter
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Dong-Hee Kim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University Hospital and Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Jinsung Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
| | - Deok Ryong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, GyeongNam, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-55-772-8054
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12
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Xin J, Wang Y, Zheng Z, Wang S, Na S, Zhang S. Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Orthop Surg 2022; 14:1271-1280. [PMID: 35486489 PMCID: PMC9251272 DOI: 10.1111/os.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) causes a variety of signs and symptoms, such as low back pain (LBP), intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal stenosis, which contribute to high social and economic costs. IDD results from many factors, including genetic factors, aging, mechanical injury, malnutrition, and so on. The pathological changes of IDD are mainly composed of the senescence and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), the progressive degeneration of extracellular matrix (ECM), the fibrosis of annulus fibrosus (AF), and the inflammatory response. At present, IDD can be treated by conservative treatment and surgical treatment based on patients' symptoms. However, all of these can only release the pain but cannot reverse IDD and reconstruct the mechanical function of the spine. The latest research is moving towards the field of biotherapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are regard as the potential therapy of IDD because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into a variety of tissues. Moreover, the non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are found to regulate many vital processes in IDD. There have been many successes in the in vitro and animal studies of using biotherapy to treat IDD, but how to transform the experimental data to real therapy which can apply to humans is still a challenge. This article mainly reviews the treatment strategies and research progress of IDD and indicates that there are many problems that need to be solved if the new biotherapy is to be applied to clinical treatment of IDD. This will provide reference and guidance for clinical treatment and research direction of IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingguo Xin
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, China
| | - Yongjie Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, China
| | - Zhi Zheng
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shibo Na
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, China
| | - Shaokun Zhang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Jilin Engineering Research Center for Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Changchun, China
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13
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Wang Z, Zhang J, Zheng W, He Y. Long Non-Coding RNAs H19 and HOTAIR Implicated in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Front Genet 2022; 13:843599. [PMID: 35309146 PMCID: PMC8927764 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.843599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the major cause of low back pain. We aimed to identify the key genes for IDD pathogenesis. Methods: An integrated analysis of microarray datasets of IDD archived in public Gene Expression Omnibus was performed. Bioinformatics analyses including identification of differentially expressed mRNAs/microRNAs/long non-coding RNAs (DEMs/DEMis/DELs), pathway enrichment, and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network construction were performed to give insights into the potential functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs, including DEMs, DEMis, and DELs). The diagnostic value of DEMis in distinguishing IDD from normal controls was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: DEGs were identified in IDD, including H19 and HOTAIR. In the DEMis–DEMs network of IDD, miR-1291, miR-4270, and miR-320b had high connectivity with targeted DEMs. Cell death biological processes and the JAK–STAT pathway were significantly enriched from targeted DEMs. The area under the curve (AUC) of 10 DEMs including miR-1273e, miR-623, miR-518b, and miR-1291 in ROC analysis was more than 0.8, which indicated that those 10 DEMs had diagnostic value in distinguishing IDD from normal individuals. Conclusions: DELs H19 and HOTAIR were related to IDD pathogenesis. Cell death biological processes and the JAK–STAT pathway might play key roles in IDD development.
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14
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Wang C, Cui L, Gu Q, Guo S, Zhu B, Liu X, Li Y, Liu X, Wang D, Li S. The Mechanism and Function of miRNA in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Orthop Surg 2022; 14:463-471. [PMID: 35142050 PMCID: PMC8926997 DOI: 10.1111/os.13204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) disease has been considered as the main cause of low back pain (LBP), which is a very common symptom and the leading cause of disability worldwide today. The pathological mechanism of IDD remains quite complicated, and genetic, developmental, biochemical, and biomechanical factors all contribute to the development of the disease. There exists no effective, non-surgical treatment for IDD nowadays, which is largely related to the lack of knowledge of the specific mechanisms of IDD, and the lack of effective specific targets. Recently, non-coding RNA, including miRNA, has been recognized as an important regulator of gene expression. Current studies on the effects of miRNA in IDD have confirmed that a variety of miRNAs play a crucial role in the process of IDD via nucleus pulposus cells (NPC) apoptosis, abnormal proliferation, inflammatory factors, the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and annulus fibrosus (AF) degeneration. In the past 10 years, research on miRNA has been quite active in IDD. This review summarizes the current research progression of miRNA in the IDD and puts forward some prospects and challenges on non-surgical treatment for IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglong Wang
- Spinal Surgery Department, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Liqiang Cui
- Department of Spine Surgery, Mianyang Orthopaedic Hospital, Mianyang, China
| | - Qinwen Gu
- Spinal Surgery Department, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Sheng Guo
- Spinal Surgery Department, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- Institute of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xueli Liu
- Institute of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yujie Li
- Institute of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xinyue Liu
- Institute of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Dingxuan Wang
- Institute of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Sen Li
- Spinal Surgery Department, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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15
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Chen Z, Ming J, Liu Y, Hu G, Liao Q. Epigenetic modification of miR-217 promotes intervertebral disc degeneration by targeting the FBXO21-ERK signalling pathway. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:261. [PMID: 36443856 PMCID: PMC9703697 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02949-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous potential therapeutic alternatives for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) have been investigated, the most promising of which are based on biological variables such as microRNAs (miRNAs). Therefore, we verified the hypothesis that miRNAs modulate IDD by affecting the FBXO21-ERK signalling pathway. METHODS Microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests were used to examine the expression profiles of miRNAs in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells between patients with IDD and controls. Western blotting and luciferase reporter assays were used to identify the miRNA targets. RESULTS Microarray and RT-qPCR assays confirmed that the expression level of miR-217 was significantly decreased in degenerative NP cells. CpG islands were predicted in the miR-217 promoter region. The IDD group had considerably higher methylation than the control group. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that miR-217 mimics inhibited apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown in NP cells. Bioinformatic analyses and luciferase assays were used to determine the connection between miR-217 and FBXO21. In vitro tests revealed that miR-217 mimics inhibited the expression of FBXO21, pERK, MMP13, and ADAMTS5 proteins, successfully protecting the ECM from degradation. Additionally, in vivo investigation using the IDD mouse model demonstrated that the miR-217 agonist may sufficiently promote NP cell proliferation, decrease apoptosis, promote ECM synthesis, and suppress the expression of matrix-degrading enzymes in NP cells. CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of miR-217 inhibits IDD via FBXO21/ERK regulation. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was performed in strict accordance with the NIH guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals (NIH Publication No. 85-23 Rev. 1985) and was approved by the human research ethics committee of Wuhan University Renmin Hospital (Approval No. RMHREC-D-2020-391), and written informed consent was obtained from each participant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghui Chen
- grid.490567.9Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou, China ,grid.256112.30000 0004 1797 9307The Third Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China ,grid.412632.00000 0004 1758 2270Orthopaedic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 9 ZhangZhiDong Street, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Jianghua Ming
- grid.412632.00000 0004 1758 2270Orthopaedic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 9 ZhangZhiDong Street, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Yajing Liu
- grid.412632.00000 0004 1758 2270Department of Anaesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Geliang Hu
- grid.412632.00000 0004 1758 2270Orthopaedic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 9 ZhangZhiDong Street, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Qi Liao
- grid.412632.00000 0004 1758 2270Orthopaedic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 9 ZhangZhiDong Street, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei China
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16
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Yang F, Wang J, Chen Z, Yang Y, Zhang W, Guo S, Yang Q. Role of microRNAs in intervertebral disc degeneration (Review). Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:860. [PMID: 34178133 PMCID: PMC8220656 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of lower back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is gradually increasing. IDD not only affects the quality of life of the patients, but also poses a major socioeconomic burden. There is currently no optimal method for delaying or reversing IDD, mainly due to its unknown pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) participate in the development of a number of diseases, including IDD. Abnormal expression of miRNAs in the intervertebral disc is implicated in various pathological processes underlying the development of IDD, including nucleus pulposus (NP) cell (NPC) proliferation, NPC apoptosis, extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammation and cartilaginous endplate changes, among others. The focus of the present review was the advances in research on the involvement of miRNAs in the mechanism underlying IDD. Further research is expected to identify markers for early diagnosis of IDD and new targets for delaying or reversing IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengguang Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Jizu Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Zhixin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Yuping Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Shifang Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Qingshan Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
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17
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Jiang J, Sun Y, Xu G, Wang H, Wang L. The role of miRNA, lncRNA and circRNA in the development of intervertebral disk degeneration (Review). Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:555. [PMID: 33850527 PMCID: PMC8027750 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.9987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a degenerative musculoskeletal disorder with multiple causative factors, such as age, genetics, mechanics and life style. IVDD contributes to non-specific lower back pain (NLBP), which is a globally prevalent and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder. NLBP has a substantial impact on medical resources and creates an economic burden for the public. Dysregulated phenotypes of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and endplate chondrocytes, such as proliferation, senescence and apoptosis, along with aberrant expression of extracellular matrix components, including type II collagen and aggrecan, are involved in the pathological process of IVDD. Evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs, mainly microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play a vital role in the development of IVDD. In the present review, the potential molecular mechanisms of miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in the initiation and progression of IVDD were described based on the latest literature. Furthermore, ways to influence the functions of NP cells and endplate chondrocytes in IVDD were also summarized. The presented insights suggested that non-coding RNAs may function as potential targets for the treatment of IVDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Jiang
- Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, P.R. China
| | - Yuefeng Sun
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116000, P.R. China
| | - Gaoran Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116000, P.R. China
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116000, P.R. China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Oncology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116000, P.R. China
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18
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Zhou Y, Deng M, Su J, Zhang W, Liu D, Wang Z. The Role of miR-31-5p in the Development of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Its Therapeutic Potential. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:633974. [PMID: 33816484 PMCID: PMC8012912 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.633974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) refers to the abnormal response of cell-mediated progressive structural failure. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of the maintenance and destruction of the intervertebral disc, new IDD treatment methods are developed. Here, we first analyzed the key regulators of IDD through microRNAs microarrays. Then, the level of miR-31-5p was evaluated by qRT-PCR. The association between miR-31-5p and Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1)/CXCR7 axis was assessed by 3′-untranslated region (UTR) cloning and luciferase assay. The apoptosis of cells under different treatments was evaluated by flow cytometer. The cell proliferation was assessed by EdU assay. After IDD model establishment, the discs of mice tail were harvested for histological and radiographic evaluation in each group. Finally, the protein levels of SDF-1, CXCR7, ADAMTS-5, Col II, Aggrecan, and MMP13 were assessed by western blot. The results show that miR-31-5p is a key regulator of IDD and its level is down-regulated in IDD. Overexpression of miR-31-5p facilitates nucleus pulposus cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, facilitates ECM formation, and inhibits the level of matrix degrading enzymes in NP cells. The SDF-1/CXCR7 axis is the direct target of miR-31-5p. miR-31-5p acts on IDD by regulating SDF-1/CXCR7. In vitro experiments further verified that the up-regulation of miR-31-5p prevented the development of IDD. In conclusion, overexpression of miR-31-5p can inhibit IDD by regulating SDF-1/CXCR7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhou
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mingsi Deng
- Department of Stomatology, Changsha Stomatological Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Jiqing Su
- Department of Oncology, Changsha Central Hospital Affiliated to Nanhua University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dongbiao Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhengguang Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
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19
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Li Y, Liu S, Pan D, Xu B, Xing X, Zhou H, Zhang B, Zhou S, Ning G, Feng S. The potential role and trend of HIF‑1α in intervertebral disc degeneration: Friend or foe? (Review). Mol Med Rep 2021; 23:239. [PMID: 33537810 PMCID: PMC7893690 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.11878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lower back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical advice in orthopedic clinics. Increasingly, research has shown that symptomatic intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is mostly related to LBP. This review first outlines the research and findings of studies into IDD, from the physiological structure of the intervertebral disc (IVD) to various pathological cascades. The vicious cycles of IDD are re-described in relation to the analysis of the relationship among the pathological mechanisms involved in IDD. Interestingly, a ‘chief molecule’ was found, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), that may regulate all other mechanisms involved in IDD. When the vicious cycle is established, the low oxygen tension activates the expression of HIF-1α, which subsequently enters into the hypoxia-induced HIF pathways. The HIF pathways are dichotomized as friend and foe pathways according to the oxygen tension of the IVD microenvironment. Combined with clinical outcomes and previous research, the trend of IDD development has been predicted in this paper. Lastly, an early precautionary diagnosis and treatment method is proposed whereby nucleus pulposus tissue for biopsy can be obtained through IVD puncture guided by B-ultrasound when the patient is showing symptoms but MRI imaging shows negative results. The assessment criteria for biopsy and the feasibility, superiority and challenges of this approach have been discussed. Overall, it is clear that HIF-1α is an indispensable reference indicator for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjin Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Shen Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Dayu Pan
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Baoshan Xu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin 300000, P.R. China
| | - Xuewu Xing
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, First Central Clinical of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Hengxing Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Suzhe Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200034, P.R. China
| | - Guangzhi Ning
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Shiqing Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
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20
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Song Q, Zhang F, Wang K, Chen Z, Li Q, Liu Z, Shen H. MiR-874-3p plays a protective role in intervertebral disc degeneration by suppressing MMP2 and MMP3. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 895:173891. [PMID: 33482178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a spinal degenerative disease and one of the most important causes of musculoskeletal disability. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated extracellular matrix degradation is the core process of IDD. The regulators of MMPs in the intervertebral disc are still not fully known. In this study, using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, luciferase reporter assay, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, we found that the miR-874-3p expression level was significantly decreased in IDD patients. MiR-874-3p could target and repress MMP2 and MMP3 expression in nucleus pulposus cells. These results could improve the understanding of IDD and provide a possible diagnostic marker and treatment candidate for IDD. The miR-874-3p/MMP2/MMP3 axis might also provide direction for future cancer and inflammation investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxin Song
- Department of Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Quan Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zude Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hongxing Shen
- Department of Spine Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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21
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Chen G, Zhou X, Li H, Xu Z. Inhibited microRNA-494-5p promotes proliferation and suppresses senescence of nucleus pulposus cells in mice with intervertebral disc degeneration by elevating TIMP3. Cell Cycle 2020; 20:11-22. [PMID: 33349112 PMCID: PMC7849772 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2020.1843812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been unraveled that microRNAs (miRNAs) played crucial roles in processes of human diseases, while the role of miR-494-5p in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) remains scarcely studied. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of miR-494-5p in IDD with the involvement of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3). Expression of miR-494-5p and TIMP3 in IDD clinical specimens was assessed. The IDD models were established by needle punching, which were then injected with low expression of miR-494-5p or TIMP3 overexpression lentivirus to observe their effects on pathology and apoptosis in IDD mice. The nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and, respectively, treated with miR-494-5p inhibitor or TIMP3 overexpression plasmid to determine the viability, apoptosis, and senescence in vitro. Furthermore, the expression of Aggrecan, Col-2, Caveolin-1, and SA-β-gal in nucleus pulposus cells in vitro were measured. The target relation between miR-494-5p and TIMP3 was determined. An increased expression of miR-494-5p and a decreased expression of TIMP3 were found in IDD. Downregulation of miR-494-5p or overexpression of TIMP3 could relieve pathology and suppress nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis in IDD mice, as well as promote the viability and attenuate the apoptosis and senescence of nucleus pulposus cells from IDD mice. Moreover, inhibition of miR-494-5p or overexpression of TIMP3 upregulated Aggrecan and Col-2 expression while downregulated Caveolin-1 and SA-β-gal expression, and TIMP3 was the target gene of miR-494-5p. Results of this study indicated that the degradation of miR-494-5p ameliorates the development of IDD by elevating TIPM3, which may provide new targets for IDD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Chen
- Orthopedic Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaopeng Zhou
- Orthopedic Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hao Li
- Orthopedic Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhengkuan Xu
- Orthopedic Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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22
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Guo HY, Guo MK, Wan ZY, Song F, Wang HQ. Emerging evidence on noncoding-RNA regulatory machinery in intervertebral disc degeneration: a narrative review. Arthritis Res Ther 2020; 22:270. [PMID: 33198793 PMCID: PMC7667735 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-020-02353-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the most common cause of low-back pain. Accumulating evidence indicates that the expression profiling of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are different between intervertebral disc tissues obtained from healthy individuals and patients with IDD. However, the roles of ncRNAs in IDD are still unclear until now. In this review, we summarize the studies concerning ncRNA interactions and regulatory functions in IDD. Apoptosis, aberrant proliferation, extracellular matrix degradation, and inflammatory abnormality are tetrad fundamental pathologic phenotypes in IDD. We demonstrated that ncRNAs are playing vital roles in apoptosis, proliferation, ECM degeneration, and inflammation process of IDD. The ncRNAs participate in underlying mechanisms of IDD in different ways. MiRNAs downregulate target genes’ expression by directly binding to the 3′-untranslated region of mRNAs. CircRNAs and lncRNAs act as sponges or competing endogenous RNAs by competitively binding to miRNAs and regulating the expression of mRNAs. The lncRNAs, circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs widely crosstalk and form complex regulatory networks in the degenerative processes. The current review presents novel insights into the pathogenesis of IDD and potentially sheds light on the therapeutics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Yu Guo
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Ke Guo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of PLA Army Medical University Warrant Officer School, Shijiazhuang, 050000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Wan
- Department of Orthopedics, The Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Song
- Department of Stomatology, PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, 100088, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Qiang Wang
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xixian Avenue, Xixian District, Shaanxi Province, 712046, People's Republic of China.
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23
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Wang XQ, Tu WZ, Guo JB, Song G, Zhang J, Chen CC, Chen PJ. A Bioinformatic Analysis of MicroRNAs' Role in Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. PAIN MEDICINE 2020; 20:2459-2471. [PMID: 30953590 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnz015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Objectives The aim of our study was to ascertain the underlying role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in human intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Design Bioinformatic analysis from multiple databases. Methods Studies of the association of miRNAs and IDD were identified in multiple electronic databases. All potential studies were assessed by the same inclusion and exclusion criteria. We recorded whether miRNA expression was commonly increased or suppressed in the intervertebral disc tissues and cells of IDD subjects. We used String to identify biological process and cellular component pathways of differentially expressed genes. Results We included fifty-seven articles from 1,277 records in this study. This report identified 40 different dysregulated miRNAs in 53 studies, including studies examining cell apoptosis (26 studies, 49.06%), cell proliferation (15 studies, 28.3%), extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation (10 studies, 18.86%), and inflammation (five studies, 9.43%) in IDD patients. Three upregulated miRNAs (miR-19b, miR-32, miR-130b) and three downregulated miRNAs (miR-31, miR-124a, miR-127-5p) were considered common miRNAs in IDD tissues. The top three biological process pathways for upregulated miRNAs were positive regulation of biological process, nervous system development, and negative regulation of biological process, and the top three biological process pathways for downregulated miRNAs were negative regulation of gene expression, intracellular signal transduction, and negative regulation of biological process. Conclusions This study revealed that miRNAs could be novel targets for preventing IDD and treating patients with IDD by regulating their target genes. These results provide valuable information for medical professionals, IDD patients, and health care policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Qiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; †Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China; ‡Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Equal contribution
| | - Wen-Zhan Tu
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; †Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China; ‡Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Equal contribution
| | - Jia-Bao Guo
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; †Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China; ‡Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ge Song
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; †Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China; ‡Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; †Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China; ‡Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chang-Cheng Chen
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; †Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China; ‡Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Pei-Jie Chen
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China; †Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China; ‡Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Drug delivery in intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis: Selecting the optimal platform for the delivery of disease-modifying agents. J Control Release 2020; 328:985-999. [PMID: 32860929 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) as major cause of chronic low back pain represent the most common degenerative joint pathologies and are leading causes of pain and disability in adults. Articular cartilage (AC) and intervertebral discs are cartilaginous tissues with a similar biochemical composition and pathophysiological aspects of degeneration. Although treatments directed at reversing these conditions are yet to be developed, many promising disease-modifying drug candidates are currently under investigation. Given the localized nature of these chronic diseases, drug delivery systems have the potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes by providing controlled and targeted release of bioactives, minimizing the number of injections needed and increasing drug concentration in the affected areas. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the currently most promising disease-modifying drugs as well as potential drug delivery systems for OA and IVDD therapy.
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25
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Cazzanelli P, Wuertz-Kozak K. MicroRNAs in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Apoptosis, Inflammation, and Mechanobiology. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103601. [PMID: 32443722 PMCID: PMC7279351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a multifactorial pathological process associated with low back pain, the leading cause of years lived in disability worldwide. Key characteristics of the pathological changes connected with degenerative disc disease (DDD) are the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), apoptosis and senescence, as well as inflammation. The impact of nonphysiological mechanical stresses on IVD degeneration and inflammation, the mechanisms of mechanotransduction, and the role of mechanosensitive miRNAs are of increasing interest. As post-transcriptional regulators, miRNAs are known to affect the expression of 30% of proteincoding genes and numerous intracellular processes. The dysregulation of miRNAs is therefore associated with various pathologies, including degenerative diseases such as DDD. This review aims to give an overview of the current status of miRNA research in degenerative disc pathology, with a special focus on the involvement of miRNAs in ECM degradation, apoptosis, and inflammation, as well as mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Cazzanelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, NY 14623, USA;
| | - Karin Wuertz-Kozak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, NY 14623, USA;
- Schön Clinic Munich Harlaching, Spine Center, Academic Teaching Hospital and Spine Research Institute of the Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg (Austria), 81547 Munich, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-585-475-7355
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Abstract
UNLABELLED MINI: Circulating microRNAs provide an insight into current disease states. Comparing patients with degenerative disc disease to healthy controls, patients with disc disease were found to have significantly downregulated levels of miR-155-5p. This marker was found to be an accurate diagnostic predictor for the presence of degeneration (P = 0.006). STUDY DESIGN Case-control study measuring differential gene expression of circulating microRNA (miRNA) in patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). OBJECTIVE To identify miRNA dysregulation in serum samples of patients with DDD compared to healthy controls (HC). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Early DDD can be a difficult diagnosis to make clinically, with lack of positive and specific findings on physical exam or advanced imaging. miRNAs are a class of molecules that act as gene regulators and have been shown to be dysregulated in local degenerative disc tissue. However, to date no studies have identified dysregulation of serum miRNA in patients with DDD. METHODS Whole blood samples were obtained from 69 patients with DDD and 16 HC. Patient-reported outcomes were collected preoperatively and degree of DDD was classified using Pfirrmann grade on preoperative imaging. Differential gene expression analysis using a screening assay for several hundred miRNAs and further characterization for five specific miRNAs (miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-142-3p, miR-146a-5p, and miR-155-5p) was performed. In addition, a pro-inflammatory cytokine multiplex assay and bioinformatics analysis were done. RESULTS The initial screening assay showed 13 miRNA molecules that were significantly dysregulated in DDD patients, with miR-155-5p showing significant downregulation (p = 0.027) and direct interactions with the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, and the tumor suppressor genes p53 and BRAF. Analyzing the whole cohort, miR-155 showed an almost four-fold downregulation in DDD patients (-3.94-fold, P < 0.001) and was the sole miRNA that accurately predicted the presence of disc degeneration (P = 0.006). Downregulation of miR-155 also correlated with increased leg pain (P = 0.018), DDD (P = 0.006), and higher Pfirrmann grade (P = 0.039). On cytokine analysis, TNF-α (0.025) and IL-6 (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in DDD patients. CONCLUSION Serum miR-155-5p is significantly downregulated in patients with DDD and may be a diagnostic marker for degenerative spinal disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A.
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circ_001653 Silencing Promotes the Proliferation and ECM Synthesis of NPCs in IDD by Downregulating miR-486-3p-Mediated CEMIP. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 20:385-399. [PMID: 32203911 PMCID: PMC7201133 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Functional changes of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) are considered to be the initiating factors of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). In this study, we investigated whether circular RNA homo sapiens (hsa)_circ_001653 (circ_001653) could bind to microRNA-486-3p (miR-486-3p) to regulate the biological properties of NPCs and the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) in IDD. Initially, circ_001653 was highly expressed in isolated NPCs and degenerative NP tissues in close relation to the severity of IDD. To evaluate the effects of circ_001653 on cellular processes, we performed experiments in vitro and in vivo with altered expression of circ_001653 and miR-486-3p. An increased expression of circ_001653 in the NPCs and the degenerative NP tissues was directly associated with elevated apoptosis and an imbalance between anabolic and catabolic factors of the ECM. miR-486-3p regulated NPC proliferation and inhibited the expression of CEMIP, the cell migration-inducing hyaluronan binding protein. circ_001653 regulated miR-486-3p expression, functioning in NPCs to upregulate CEMIP, whereas circ_001653 silencing alleviated IDD in the mouse model. Altogether, circ_001653 downregulation could potentially alleviate NPC apoptosis and the metabolic imbalance of the ECM through the miR-486-3p/CEMIP axis. These mechanistic insights may present new therapeutic targets for the treatment of IDD.
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28
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Zheng H, Wang T, Li X, He W, Gong Z, Lou Z, Wang B, Li X. LncRNA MALAT1 exhibits positive effects on nucleus pulposus cell biology in vivo and in vitro by sponging miR-503. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:23. [PMID: 32228440 PMCID: PMC7106590 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-020-00265-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is characterized by the loss of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and phenotypic abnormalities. Accumulating evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of IDD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional effects of lncRNA MALAT1 on NPCs in IDD and the possible mechanism governing these effects. Results We validated the decreased expression of MALAT1 in the IDD tissues, which was associated with decreased Collagen II and Aggrecan expression. In vitro, overexpressed MALAT1 could attenuate the effect of IL-1β on NPC proliferation, apoptosis, and Aggrecan degradation. In vivo, MALAT1 overexpression attenuated the severity of disc degeneration in IDD model rats. Our molecular study further demonstrated that MALAT1 could sponge miR-503, modulate the expression of miR-503, and activate downstream MAPK signaling pathways. The effects of MALAT1 on NPCs were partially reversed/aggregated by miR-503 mimics/inhibitor treatment. Conclusion Our data suggested that the MALAT1-miR-503-MAPK pathway plays a critical role in NPCs, which may be a potential strategy for alleviating IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zheng
- Department of Emergency Medical, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Yan' An Hospital of Kunming City, Kunming, China
| | - Xiangmin Li
- Department of Panicaceae, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Orthopedics, Qianjiang Central Hospital, Qianjiang, China
| | - Zhiqiang Gong
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Road, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhenkai Lou
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Road, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Road, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xingguo Li
- Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 295 Xichang Road, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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Fan Z, Zhao W, Fan S, Li C, Qiao J, Xu Y. Identification of Potential Biomarkers for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Using the Genome-Wide Expression Analysis. J Comput Biol 2020; 27:1341-1349. [PMID: 31904996 DOI: 10.1089/cmb.2019.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the major cause of low back pain. The current study was aimed to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying it. Microarray data sets GSE70362 containing Thompson degeneration grades I-V were divided into the control and the degenerative group and were analyzed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened and clustered, followed by functional enrichment analysis. Then the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the microRNA (miRNA) regulatory network were constructed and integratedly analyzed. Finally, modules from the integrated network were mined, and gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were performed. DEGs in three clusters had the overall expression trend with the Thompson grades. The upregulated DEGs were associated with protein transport and localization, while the downregulated DEGs were enriched in membrane lipid metabolic process and endocytosis. After the integrated analysis of PPI and miRNA-target interactions, some hub genes such as HSP90B1, RPS4Y1, RPL15, and UTY, as well as hub miRNAs, including miR-124a and miR-506, were screened. Finally, modules in the integrated network were functionally associated with protein targeting, peptide processing, and metabolic process, as well as protein folding. Taken together, our data showed that the protein synthesis, targeting, and localization can be greatly changed to contribute to the progress of IDD. Besides, the related genes such as RPS4Y1 and HSP90B1 would be used as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongjiang Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Wanqiu Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedics, and 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Shengning Fan
- Department of Orthopaedics, and 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, and 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Jing Qiao
- Department of Information, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Yongqing Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, and 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
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Yu ZW, Gao W, Feng XY, Zhang JY, Guo HX, Wang CJ, Chen J, Hu JP, Ren WZ, Yuan B. Roles of differential expression of miR-543-5p in GH regulation in rat anterior pituitary cells and GH3 cells. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222340. [PMID: 31509580 PMCID: PMC6738916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) is an important hormone released by the pituitary gland that plays a key role in the growth and development of organisms. In our study, TargetScan analysis and the dual luciferase reporter assays were used to predict and screen for miRNAs that might act on the rat Gh1 gene, and we identified miR-543-5p. Then, the GH3 cell line and the primary rat pituitary cells were transfected with miRNA mimic, inhibitor, and siRNA. We detected the Gh1 gene expression and the GH secretion by real-time PCR and ELISAs, respectively, to verify the regulatory effect of miR-543-5p on GH secretion. The results showed that miR-543-5p can inhibit Gh1 mRNA expression and reduce GH secretion. MiR-543-5p inhibitor upregulated Gh1 mRNA expression and increased GH secretion compared with the negative control. In summary, miR-543-5p downregulates Gh1 expression, resulting in a decrease in GH synthesis and secretion, which demonstrates the important role of miRNAs in regulating GH and animal growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Wen Yu
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Yao Feng
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Yu Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Xiang Guo
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Chang-Jiang Wang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Ping Hu
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Zhi Ren
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
- * E-mail: (BY); (W-ZR)
| | - Bao Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
- * E-mail: (BY); (W-ZR)
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Gonzalez-Molina J, Gramolelli S, Liao Z, Carlson JW, Ojala PM, Lehti K. MMP14 in Sarcoma: A Regulator of Tumor Microenvironment Communication in Connective Tissues. Cells 2019; 8:cells8090991. [PMID: 31466240 PMCID: PMC6770050 DOI: 10.3390/cells8090991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas are deadly malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin occurring at all ages. The expression and function of the membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase MMP14 is closely related to the mesenchymal cell phenotype, and it is highly expressed in most sarcomas. MMP14 regulates the activity of multiple extracellular and plasma membrane proteins, influencing cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) communication. This regulation mediates processes such as ECM degradation and remodeling, cell invasion, and cancer metastasis. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the biology of MMP14 in sarcomas will shed light on the mechanisms controlling the key processes in these diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the function and regulation of MMP14 and we discuss their relationship with clinical and pre-clinical MMP14 data in both adult and childhood sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Gonzalez-Molina
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Silvia Gramolelli
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zehuan Liao
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Joseph W Carlson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Päivi M Ojala
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Section of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, UK
| | - Kaisa Lehti
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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Fan Y, Zhao L, Xie W, Yi D, He S, Chen D, Huang J. Serum miRNAs are potential biomarkers for the detection of disc degeneration, among which miR-26a-5p suppresses Smad1 to regulate disc homeostasis. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 23:6679-6689. [PMID: 31338931 PMCID: PMC6787501 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Disc degeneration is a common clinical condition in which damaged discs cause chronic pain; however, a laboratory diagnosis method for its detection is not available. As circulating miRNAs have potential as biomarkers, their application in disc degeneration has not been explored. Here, we prepared serum miRNAs from a mouse disc degeneration model and performed miRNA‐Seq and quantitative PCR to characterize disc degeneration–associated miRNAs. We identified three miRNAs, including miR‐26a‐5p, miR‐122‐5p and miR‐215‐5p, undergoing perturbation during the pathogenesis of disc degeneration. Specifically, the levels of miR‐26a‐5p in the serum demonstrated steady increases in the model of disc degeneration, compared with those in the pre‐injury samples of younger age or compared with normal controls of the same age but without disc degeneration, whereas the miRNAs miR‐122‐5p and miR‐215‐5p exhibited lower expression in post‐injury samples than in their counterparts without the surgery. Moreover, we found that miR‐26a‐5p targets Smad1 expression, and Smad1 negatively regulates Vegfa expression in disc cells, and thus, miR‐26a‐5p promotes disc degeneration. In summary, we established a method that consistently profiles circulating miRNAs and identified multiple miRNAs as promising biomarkers for disc degeneration, among which miR‐26a‐5p enhances VEGF expression during disc degeneration through targeting Smad1 signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshan Fan
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lan Zhao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Wanqing Xie
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dan Yi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shisheng He
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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Wang J, Liu X, Sun B, Du W, Zheng Y, Sun Y. Upregulated miR-154 promotes ECM degradation in intervertebral disc degeneration. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:11900-11907. [PMID: 30825225 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), a common global health issue, is a major cause for low back pain (LBP). Given the complex etiology of IDD, micro RNA (miRNA) recently has been demonstrated to play essential roles in the progression of IDD. Therefore, this study aims to investigate functions of the miR-154, which is well-documented in a series of cell activities, IDD, and other relevant mechanisms. Lumbar nucleus pulposus (NP) samples were collected from patients with IDD and the control group. After solexa sequencing and bioinformatical analysis, the results showed that miR-154 was increased in NP cells of patients with IDD. Inhibition of miR-154 increased type II collagen and aggrecan and decreased mRNA expressions of collagenase-3 (MMP13) and aggrecanase-1 (ADAMTS4), whereas overexpression of miR-154 reversed such effects in NP cells. In addition, the luciferase reporter assay revealed that fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) is a direct target of miR-154 and that the overexpression of FGF14 leads to similar effects as inhibition of miR-154 did. In conclusion, the results suggested that miR-154 participates in the development of IDD and its effects are mediated via targeting FGF14. Thus, miR-154 may be thought as a potential etiological factor for IDD and may provide insights into a therapeutic target to treat IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Wang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Spine, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Department of Laboratory, Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Bing Sun
- Department of Spine, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Wei Du
- Department of Spine, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Yanping Zheng
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yuanliang Sun
- Department of Spine Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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Ji ML, Jiang H, Zhang XJ, Shi PL, Li C, Wu H, Wu XT, Wang YT, Wang C, Lu J. Preclinical development of a microRNA-based therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5051. [PMID: 30487517 PMCID: PMC6262020 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07360-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating the maintenance and destruction of intervertebral disc may lead to the development of new therapies for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Here we present evidence from miRNA microarray analyses of clinical data sets along with in vitro and in vivo experiments that miR-141 is a key regulator of IDD. Gain- and loss-of-function studies show that miR-141 drives IDD by inducing nucleus pulposus (NP) apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-141 KO in mice attenuated spontaneous and surgically induced IDD. Mechanistically, miR-141 promotes IDD development by targeting and depleting SIRT1, a negative regulator of NF-κB pathway. Therapeutically, upregulation or downregulation of miR-141 by nanoparticle delivery in IDD model aggravated or alleviated experimental IDD, respectively. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which miR-141, in part, promotes IDD progression by interacting with SIRT1/NF-κB pathway. Blockade of miR-141 in vivo may serve as a potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of IDD. Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is characterized by changes in the nucleus pulposus (NP) extra cellular matrix that compromise disk structural integrity. In a miRNA screen of human IDD patient NP tissue, the authors identify deregulated miR-141 and show that direct injection of nanoparticle-coupled miR-141 into the NP alleviates IDD in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Liang Ji
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Hua Jiang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530000, China
| | - Xue-Jun Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Pei-Liang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study of Ministry of Education, Model Animal Research Center, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Tao Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun-Tao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, China.
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35
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Wang XB, Wang H, Long HQ, Li DY, Zheng X. LINC00641 regulates autophagy and intervertebral disc degeneration by acting as a competitive endogenous RNA of miR-153-3p under nutrition deprivation stress. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:7115-7127. [PMID: 30378116 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence supports the involvement of autophagy in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play fundamental roles in various cellular processes, including autophagy. However, it remains largely unknown as to how autophagy is regulated by miRNAs and lncRNAs in IDD. Biological functions of miR-153-3p and long intergenic nonprotein coding RNA 641 (LINC00641) were investigated. Luciferase reporter assays was done to validate miR-153-3p targets. To induce nutritional stress, nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were cultured in the normal nutritional condition and the low nutritional condition. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to analyze miR-153-3p and LINC00641 in response to nutrient deprivation. Autophagic activity was assessed by transmission electron microscopy, western blot analysis and green fluorescent protein-light chain 3 puncta. Pull-down assay and RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization were performed to validate LINC00641 target and the location. MiR-153-3p is downregulated in NP tissues from IDD patients. Further, LINC00641 can affect collagen II and matrix metalloproteinase-3 expressions. Upregulation of LINC00641 and downregulation of miR-153-3p are detected in NP cells under nutritional stress. LINC00641 can regulate autophagic cell death by targeting miR-153-3p and autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5). MiR-153-3p inhibits autophagy and IDD by targeting ATG5. More important, LINC00641 targets miR-153-3p, and thus affects ATG5 expression, autophagic cell death and IDD. These findings uncover a novel regulatory pathway that is composed of LINC00641, miR-153-3p, and ATG5 in IDD. This mechanism may stimulate to a more understanding of IDD pathogenesis and provide new sights for the treatment of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Bo Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hou-Qing Long
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Ya Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xin Zheng
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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Tan H, Zhao L, Song R, Liu Y, Wang L. microRNA-665 promotes the proliferation and matrix degradation of nucleus pulposus through targeting GDF5 in intervertebral disc degeneration. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:7218-7225. [PMID: 29761869 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidences suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) played important roles in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, the expression level and function of miR-665 in IDD remain unknown. In this study, we showed that the expression level of miR-665 was upregulated in degenerative human NP samples. In addition, miR-665 expression level gradually increased with the exacerbation of disc degeneration grade. Moreover, miR-665 expression level was positively associated with the Pfirrmann grade. Ectopic expression of miR-665 promoted NP cell growth. Furthermore, miR-665 overexpression decreased aggrecan and Col II expression and ectopic expression of miR-665 increased MMP-3 and MMP-13 expression in NP cell. We identified growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) was a direct target gene of miR-665 in NP cell and enforced expression of miR-665 decreased GDF5 expression. Elevated expression of miR-665 enhanced NP cell proliferation and decreased aggrecan and Col II expression. In addition, ectopic expression of miR-665 increased MMP-3 and MMP-13 expression through inhibiting GDF5 expression in NP cells. These results suggested that dysregulated miR-665 expression might act an important role in the development of IDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Tan
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruipeng Song
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yilin Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Limin Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Kang L, Yang C, Song Y, Zhao K, Liu W, Hua W, Wang K, Tu J, Li S, Yin H, Zhang Y. MicroRNA-494 promotes apoptosis and extracellular matrix degradation in degenerative human nucleus pulposus cells. Oncotarget 2018; 8:27868-27881. [PMID: 28427186 PMCID: PMC5438614 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigated the expression and function of the microRNA-494 in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). RESULTS MicroRNA-494 expression was upregulated during IDD progression; its overexpression increased the expression of ECM catabolic factors such as matrix metalloproteinase and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif in NP cells while decreasing that of anabolic genes such as type II collagen and aggrecan; it also induced the apoptosis of NP cells, as determined by flow cytometry. These effects were reversed by microRNA-494 inhibitor treatment. SOX9 was identified as a target of negative regulation by microRNA-494. Promoter hypomethylation and NF-κB activation were associated with microRNA-494 upregulation in IDD. MATERIALS AND METHODS MicroRNA-494 expression in degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. The effect of microRNA-494 on extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism and NP cell apoptosis was evaluated by transfection of microRNA-494 mimic or inhibitor. The regulation of SRY-related high mobility group box (SOX)9 expression by microRNA-494 was assessed with the luciferase reporter assay, and the methylation status of the microRNA-494 promoter was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR and bisulfite sequencing PCR. The role of activated nuclear factor (NF)-κB in the regulation of microRNA-494 expression was evaluated using specific inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS MicroRNA-494 promotes ECM degradation and apoptosis of degenerative human NP cells by directly targeting SOX9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Kang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Cao Yang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Kangcheng Zhao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, First Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Wenbin Hua
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Ji Tu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Shuai Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Huipeng Yin
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Yukun Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
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38
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Understanding the molecular biology of intervertebral disc degeneration and potential gene therapy strategies for regeneration: a review. Gene Ther 2018; 25:67-82. [DOI: 10.1038/s41434-018-0004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Han DX, Xiao Y, Wang CJ, Jiang H, Gao Y, Yuan B, Zhang JB. Regulation of FSH expression by differentially expressed miR-186-5p in rat anterior adenohypophyseal cells. PLoS One 2018. [PMID: 29534107 PMCID: PMC5849326 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) has key roles in animal reproduction, including spermatogenesis and ovarian maturation. Many factors influence FSH secretion. However, despite the broad functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) via the regulation of target genes, little is known about their roles in FSH secretion. Our previous results suggested that miR-186-5p targets the 3′ UTR of FSHb; therefore, we examined whether miR-186-5p could regulate FSH secretion in rat anterior adenohypophyseal cells. miR-186-5p was transfected into rat anterior pituitary cells. The expression of FSHb and the secretion of FSH were examined by RT-qPCR and ELISA. A miR-186-5p mimic decreased the expression of FSHb compared with expression in the control group and decreased FSH secretion. In contrast, both the mRNA levels and secretion of FSH increased in response to miR-186-5p inhibitors. Our results demonstrate that miR-186-5p regulates FSH secretion by directly targeting the FSHb 3′ UTR, providing additional functional evidence for the importance of miRNAs in the regulation of animal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Xu Han
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Yue Xiao
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Chang-Jiang Wang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Bao Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
- * E-mail: (JBZ); (BY)
| | - Jia-Bao Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, P.R. China
- * E-mail: (JBZ); (BY)
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40
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Guo W, Zhang B, Li Y, Duan HQ, Sun C, Xu YQ, Feng SQ. Gene expression profile identifies potential biomarkers for human intervertebral disc degeneration. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:8665-8672. [PMID: 29039500 PMCID: PMC5779940 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to reveal the potential genes associated with the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) by analyzing microarray data using bioinformatics. Gene expression profiles of two regions of the intervertebral disc were compared between patients with IDD and controls. GSE70362 containing two groups of gene expression profiles, 16 nucleus pulposus (NP) samples from patients with IDD and 8 from controls, and 16 annulus fibrosus (AF) samples from patients with IDD and 8 from controls, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. A total of 93 and 114 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in NP and AF samples, respectively, using a limma software package for the R programming environment. Gene Ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis was performed to identify the associated biological functions of DEGs in IDD, which indicated that the DEGs may be involved in various processes, including cell adhesion, biological adhesion and extracellular matrix organization. Pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) demonstrated that the identified DEGs were potentially involved in focal adhesion and the p53 signaling pathway. Further analysis revealed that there were 35 common DEGs observed between the two regions (NP and AF), which may be further regulated by 6 clusters of microRNAs (miRNAs) retrieved with WebGestalt. The genes in the DEG‑miRNA regulatory network were annotated using GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, among which extracellular matrix organization was the most significant disrupted biological process and focal adhesion was the most significant dysregulated pathway. In addition, the result of protein‑protein interaction network modules demonstrated the involvement of inflammatory cytokine interferon signaling in IDD. These findings may not only advance the understanding of the pathogenesis of IDD, but also identify novel potential biomarkers for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- No. 2 Department of Orthopaedics, Hebei Province Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine (Cangzhou No. 2 Hospital), Cangzhou, Hebei 061001, P.R. China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Hui-Quan Duan
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Chao Sun
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Yun-Qiang Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Shi-Qing Feng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
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Zhou X, Chen L, Grad S, Alini M, Pan H, Yang D, Zhen W, Li Z, Huang S, Peng S. The roles and perspectives of microRNAs as biomarkers for intervertebral disc degeneration. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2017; 11:3481-3487. [PMID: 28256798 DOI: 10.1002/term.2261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya Zhou
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital; Jinan University School of Medicine; Shenzhen 518020 China
- Center for Human Tissues and Organs Degeneration, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen 518055 China
- Department of Science and Education; Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital; Shenzhen 518001 China
| | - Lili Chen
- Center for Human Tissues and Organs Degeneration, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Sibylle Grad
- AO Research Institute Davos Clavadelerstrasse; 8, 7270 Davos Switzerland
| | - Mauro Alini
- AO Research Institute Davos Clavadelerstrasse; 8, 7270 Davos Switzerland
| | - Haobo Pan
- Center for Human Tissues and Organs Degeneration, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Dazhi Yang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital; Jinan University School of Medicine; Shenzhen 518020 China
| | - Wanxin Zhen
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital; Jinan University School of Medicine; Shenzhen 518020 China
| | - Zhizhong Li
- Department of Orthopedics; The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University; Guangzhou 510632 China
| | - Shishu Huang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital; Jinan University School of Medicine; Shenzhen 518020 China
- Center for Human Tissues and Organs Degeneration, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen 518055 China
- Department of Spine Surgery; West China Hospital, Sichuan University; Chengdu 610041 China
| | - Songlin Peng
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital; Jinan University School of Medicine; Shenzhen 518020 China
- Center for Human Tissues and Organs Degeneration, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Shenzhen 518055 China
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