The effects of pulsed electromagnetic irradiation on neuropeptide Y regulation, the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and degradation of the extracellular matrix in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2024.07.004
- VernacularTitle:脉冲电磁场对椎间盘退行性病变大鼠髓核神经肽Y、细胞凋亡及基质降解的影响
- Author:
Zhengkun WANG
1
;
Zhi YAO
;
Mengcheng WEI
;
Shishuang ZHANG
;
Junlong ZHOU
;
Qingbo LI
;
Lei CAI
;
Chuankun ZHOU
;
Bowen KOU
;
Weijun LIU
Author Information
1. 武汉市第四医院脊柱及骨肿瘤外科中心，武汉 430030
- Keywords:
Electromagnetic fields;
Intervertebral disc degeneration;
Neuropeptide Y;
Apoptosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2024;46(7):601-607
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To document any effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on the regulation of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue, NP cell apoptosis and matrix degradation using rats with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).Methods:Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, an IDD model group (the model group), and a PEMF group. IDD was induced in both the model and PEMF groups. Right after the modeling, the PEMF group received 14 days of PEMF treatment, while the control group and model group were given no special treatment. Meanwhile, the primary rat nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were cultured using Dulbecco′s Modified Eagle Medium at 37℃ and 5% CO 2. When the fusion rate reached 90% after passage, the NPCs were divided into a control group, a TNF-α model group (referred to as model group) and TNF-α + PEMF group (referred to as PEMF group) and treated accordingly. Eight weeks after the modeling, safranin-o/fast green staining was used to assess any pathological morphology changes. The expression of NPY, neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (NPY2R), bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), collagen type II (Col-II) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) in the intervertebral disc and the cultivated nucleus pulposus cells of the 3 groups were determined. Results:The intervertebral disc cells in the model group were ruptured and folded, with significantly increased polysaccharide and protein components, and significantly increased bone fibers. In the PEMF group the cell boundaries were clearer, with less fibrin fracture and increased cartilage tissue. NPY was expressed in the fibrous annulus and the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc in the model group. The average expression levels of NPY and NPY2R were significantly higher than in the control group and the model group. Compared with the control group, there was a significant increase in the level of Bax and a significant decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 in the model group, and there was a significant decrease in the level of Bax in the PEMF group. Compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the Col-II level but a significant increase in the MMP3 protein expression in the model group. The average Col-II mRNA expression was significantly higher in the PEMF group compared with the model group, but the average MMP3 protein expression was significantly less. Those results are consistent with observations in vivo.Conclusion:PEMF may reverse the imbalance of ECM metabolism and delay IDD degeneration by up-regulating the expression of NPY and Bcl-2, as well as blocking the Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells.
