Liuwei Dihuang Pill inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade of nucleus pulposus cells in a model of intervertebral disc degeneration
10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2017.12.010
- VernacularTitle:六味地黄丸对椎间盘体外退变模型髓核细胞MAPK信号级联的影响
- Author:
Wuji XU
;
Sihua LIU
;
Kang YANG
- From:
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research
2017;21(12):1861-1866
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:JNKs and p38 MAPK, as important members of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), play critical roles in the cell proliferation, differentiation, transformation and apoptosis. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of Liuwei Dihuang Pill on the MAPK signaling cascade of nucleus pulposus cells in a rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS:100 discs samples with endplate cartilages were equivalently randomized into five groups and cultured in the medium containing 10 mg/L tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α, 2μL), p38-JNK/SAPK blockers (10μL of 20μmol/L SB203580 and SP600125, 2μL of 10μmol/L TNF-α), 10%Liuwei Dihuang Pill serum, 10 mg/L TNF-α(2μL) plus 10%Liuwei Dihuang Pill serum, respectively. Those cells received no intervention as controls. Samples were collected and detected at 2, 4, 8 and 14 days of culture. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Real time-PCR and western blot assay showed that mRNA and protein expressions of JNK and P38 pathways by the nucleus pulposus cells were upregulated with time, while all above indicators were significantly decreased by the Liuwei Dihuang Pill serum. These findings reveal that Liuwei Dihuang Pill can delay the process of disc degeneration by blocking JNK and P38 signaling pathways, thus exerting protective effect on the intervertebral discs.
