ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang on the regulation of the microRNA-17-5P (miR-17-5P)/murine double minute 2 (MDM2)/p53 axis in the proliferation and apoptosis of rat intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells, and its potential molecular mechanism. MethodsIntervertebral disc annulus fibrosus tissues were obtained from 8-week-old SPF-grade male SD rats, and annulus fibrosus cells were isolated and obtained by enzyme digestion and mechanical dispersion. Annulus fibrosus cells were divided into 6 groups: Group C was the blank control group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were not treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) but were cultured in RPMI 1640 complete medium. Group β was the degeneration model group constructed by treating annulus fibrosus cells with 10 ng/mL IL-1β for 24 h. Group β+B was the IL-1β + blank serum group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then treated with RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% blank serum for 24 h. Group β+W was the IL-1β + Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then treated with RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum for 24 h. Group β+I was the IL-1β + miR-17-5P inhibitor group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then transfected with miR-17-5P inhibitor. Group β+I+W was the IL-1β + miR-17-5P inhibitor + Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum group, in which annulus fibrosus cells were first treated with IL-1β to construct the degeneration model, then transfected with miR-17-5P inhibitor, and finally treated with RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% Yaoshu Zhuyu Fang-containing serum for 24 h. CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell survival rate. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-17-5P, MDM2 mRNA, and p53 mRNA in cells. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of MDM2 and p53 in cells. Dual-luciferase reporter system was used to analyze the targeting relationship between miR-17-5P and MDM2. ResultsCompared with Group C, Group β showed a significant decrease in cell survival rate (P<0.001), a significant increase in cell apoptosis rate (P<0.001), significantly increased expression of miR-17-5P, p53 mRNA, and p53 protein (P<0.001), and significantly decreased expression of MDM2 mRNA and protein (P<0.001). Compared with Group β, Group β+W, Group β+I, and Group β+I+W showed significantly increased cell survival rate, significantly decreased apoptosis rate, significantly decreased expression of miR-17-5P, p53 mRNA, and p53 protein, and significantly increased expression of MDM2 mRNA and protein (P<0.001). Moreover, changes in the above indicators were greater in Group β+I+W (P<0.001). Circular RNA Interactome predicted that miR-17-5P had specific binding sites with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of MDM2. Transfection of miR-17-5P mimic significantly reduced the luciferase expression level of co-transfected luciferase reporter plasmid containing wild-type MDM2 3'UTR (P<0.05), but had no significant effect on luciferase expression in cells co-transfected with luciferase reporter plasmid containing mutant MDM2 3'UTR (P>0.05). ConclusionYaoshu Zhuyu Fang down-regulates the expression of miR-17-5P, promotes the synthesis of MDM2 protein, thereby down-regulates p53, promotes proliferation, and inhibits the apoptosis of rat intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells.

Objective To investigate the effects of microRNA(miRNA,miR)-887-3p on the proliferation and apoptosis of rat intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells and its underlying molecular mechanism.Methods Annulus fibrosus tissues were obtained from 8-week-old SPF-grade SD male rats,centrifuged to prepare and identify annulus fibrosus cells.Rats in the experiment were randomly divided into four groups:a Normal group consisting of primary annulus fibrosus cells without any treatment;a Control group treated with 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β(IL-1β)for 24 hours to establish a degenerative cell model;an interference group(miR-887-3p inhibitor)transfected with miR-887-3p inhibitor using Lipo3000 based on the Control group;and an overexpression group(miR-887-3p mimics)transfected with miR-887-3p mimics using Lipo3000 based on the Control group.CCK-8 assay was used to assess cell viability;flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis rates;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qPCR)was used to detect the expression levels of miR-887-3p and murine double minute 4(MDM4)mRNA;Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression levels of MDM4,Bcl-2,and Caspase-3.Results Immunofluorescence staining of isolated and cultured cells revealed a Collagen I positive rate of over 90％in rat intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells,indicating a cell purity level greater than 90％.Real-time fluorescence qPCR results showed that after establishing an annulus fibrosus degenerative cell model using IL-1β,the expression level of miR-887-3p significantly increased compared to the Normal group(P＜0.001).Compared to the Control group,transfection with miR-887-3p inhibitor resulted in a significant decrease in its expression level(P＜0.001).The CCK-8 assay showed that compared to the Normal group,cell viability significantly decreased in the Control group(P＜0.001).Compared to the Control group,cell proliferation ability significantly increased after miR-887-3p inhibition,and significantly decreased after overexpression of miR-887-3p.Flow cytometry results revealed that compared to the Normal group,the apoptosis rate in the Control group significantly increased(P＜0.001).Compared to the Control group,the cell apoptosis rate significantly decreased in the miR-887-3p interference group(P＜0.001)and increased in the overexpression group(P＜0.001).Western blotting analysis showed that compared to the Normal group,Bcl-2 expression level significantly decreased(P＜0.001)and Caspase-3 expression level significantly increased(P＜0.001)in the Control group.Compared to the Control group,Bcl-2 and MDM4 expression levels significantly increased(P＜0.01),and Caspase-3 expression level significantly decreased(P＜0.01)in the miR-887-3p interference group;whereas in the overexpression group,Bcl-2 and MDM4 expression levels significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and Caspase-3 levels significantly increased(P＜0.05).Real-time fluorescence qPCR and protein immunoblotting results showed that after interfering with miR-887-3p,the expression of MDM4 protein and mRNA increased(P＜0.001);after overexpressing miR-887-3p,their expression decreased(protein,P＜0.01;mRNA,P＜0.001).Conclusion MiR-887-3p may modulate the cell proliferation and apoptosis of rat intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells by regulating MDM4 expression,thereby influencing the development and progression of disc degeneration.

COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Phosphoproteins ; SARS-CoV-2