Overexpression of LMP-1 Decreases Apoptosis in Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells via Suppressing the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Abstract EN

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a prevalent disease characterized by low back pain.

Increasing extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and decreasing nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) apoptosis are promising strategies to recover degenerated NP.

LIM mineralization protein- (LMP-) 1 has anti-inflammatory potential and is a promising gene target for the treatment of NP degeneration.

In this study, we measured the expression of LMP-1 in the NP of patients.

Then, we constructed LMP-1-overexpressing NPCs using lentiviral vectors and investigated the effects of LMP-1 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and ECM synthesis in NPCs.

The results showed that LMP-1 was highly expressed in the NP of patients.

LMP-1 overexpression significantly increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis in NPCs.

The expression of collagen II and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) in NPCs was also upregulated after LMP-1 was overexpressed.

Moreover, we demonstrated that LMP-1 decreased apoptosis of NPCs by inhibiting NF-κB signaling activation.

These findings suggest that LMP-1 plays an essential role in mediating apoptosis in NPCs by regulating NF-κB signaling and can be used as a gene target for the treatment of IDD.