人椎间盘髓核细胞增殖活性与益肾活血通络方的干预调控

Proliferative activity of nucleus pulposus cells in human intervertebral disc and intervention with Yishen Huoxue Tongluo Recipe

背景:NF-κB信号通路与椎间盘退变的关系是骨科学术界研究热点,深入研究椎间盘中各种信号通路的作用,有助于了解椎间盘退变的发生机制。目的:通过研究不同静水压压力下益肾活血通络方含药血清对人椎间盘髓核细胞NF-κB信号通路的调控作用,以期能从分子生物学角度探讨益肾活血通络方治疗椎间盘退变性疾病的可能机制及作用靶点。方法:将第3代人椎间盘髓核细胞分为8组,分别加入益肾活血通络方含药血清,在体外不同静水压加载条件(0.3,1,3 MPa)下作用2,4,6 h后,使用倒置相差显微镜观察椎间盘髓核细胞的形态及生长状况;使用透射电镜观察椎间盘髓核细胞的超微结构;采用CCK-8法检测各组髓核细胞的增殖活性;采用Annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide凋亡试剂盒检测髓核细胞的凋亡率;采用Western blot法检测髓核细胞内NF-κB p65、CollagenⅡ、ADAMTS-4、MMP-13、Caspase-3的表达。结果与结论:①在同一压力及作用时间下压力+中药血清组髓核细胞形态较常压组、单纯压力组更完整,生长状况更好,其中0.3,1 MPa压力+中药血清组优于3 MPa压力+中药血清组;②压力+中药血清组髓核细胞增殖活性更高,其中0.3 MPa压力+中药血清组与0.3 MPa单纯压力组比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.05);③压力+中药血清组椎间盘髓核细胞的凋亡率较常压组、单纯压力干预组低(P<0.05);④与单纯压力组比较,压力+中药血清组CollagenⅡ、Caspase-3表达增加,NF-κB p65、ADAMTS-4、MMP-13表达减少(P<0.05);⑤结果表明,益肾活血通络方能增加细胞活性,减少细胞凋亡,有效延缓髓核细胞的退变,其机制可能与椎间盘髓核细胞NF-κB信号通路促进CollagenⅡ、Caspase-3表达,抑制NF-κB p65、ADAMTS-4、MMP-13表达有关。

BACKGROUND: The relationship between nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway and intervertebral disc degeneration is a hotspot in the field of orthopedics. In-depth investigation on various signaling pathways in the intervertebral disc contributes to understanding the mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regulation of the serum containing Yishen Huoxue Tongluo Recipe on the NF-κB signal pathway of human intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells under different hydrostatic pressures, attempting to explore the possible therapeutic mechanism and target of Yishen Huoxue Tongluo Recipe in the treatment of degenerative diseases of the intervertebral disc from the perspective of molecular biology. METHODS: Passage 3 Human intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells were divided into eight groups and were cultured in the drug-containing serum of Yishen Huoxue Tongluo Recipe. The cells were intervened for 2, 4, and 6 hours under different hydrostatic loading conditions (0.3, 1, and 3 MPa). The morphology and growth of nucleus pulposus cells were observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope. Ultrastructural changes of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells were observed by a transmission electron microscopy. Cell counting kit-8 method was used to detect the proliferation activity of nucleus pulposus cells. Annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide apoptotic kit was used to double-stain nucleus pulposus cells to detect the cell apoptotic rate. Western blot method was used to detect the changes of NF-κB p65, Collagen II, ADAMTS-4, MMP-13 and Caspase-3 in nucleus pulposus cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Under the same pressure and time, the morphology and growth of nucleus pulposus cells in the pressure+drug-containing serum groups were better than those in the normal pressure group and the simple pressure groups. Among them, the 0.3 and 1 MPa pressure+drug-containing serum groups had more intact cell morphology and better cell growth than the 3 MPa pressure+ drug-containing serum group. (2) The proliferative activity of nucleus pulposus cells was higher in the pressure+drug-containing serum group, and there was a significant difference between the 0.3 MPa pressure+drug-containing serum group and the 0.3 MPa simple pressure group (P < 0.05). (3) The apoptotic rate of nucleus pulposus cells in the pressure+drug-containing serum group was lower than that in the normal pressure group and simple pressure intervention group (P < 0.05). (4) The expression of Collagen II and Caspase-3 increased in the pressure+drug-containing serum group, while the expression of NF-kappa B p65, ADAMTS-4 and MMP-13 decreased in the pressure+drug-containing serum group (P < 0.05). To conclude, Yishen Huoxue Tongluo Recipe can increase cell activity, reduce cell apoptosis and effectively delay the degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells. Its mechanism is likely to promote the expression of Collagen II and Caspase-3 through the NF-κB signaling pathway of nucleus pulposus cells of intervertebral disc, and inhibit the expression of NF-κB p65, ADAMTS-4 and MMP-13.