piperidines and Intervertebral-Disc-Degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD), a common musculoskeletal disease with limited self-healing ability, is challenging to treat. The development of innovative therapies to reverse IDD depends on the elucidation of its regulatory mechanisms. Therefore, the role of Src homology region 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) in the pathogenesis of IDD and the therapeutic effect of its small-molecule inhibitor, SHP099, were investigated.. The expression of SHP2 by nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in IVD was investigated in vitro and in vivo, and its molecular mechanism in IDD was explored using transfection technology. Injectable N-isopropylacrylamide-based thermosensitive hydrogels were synthesized for SHP099 delivery.. SHP2 was highly expressed in degenerated IVDs, where its overexpression in NP cells inhibited the expression of Sry-related HMG box-9 (Sox9), leading to the decreased expression of key proteins (collagen II and aggrecan) and consequently to IDD. SHP099 reversed the degeneration of NP cells in vitro. Moreover, its administration in rats via the injectable thermosensitive hydrogel had a therapeutic effect on IDD.. Our results suggest that SHP2 is a key factor in IDD progression, and SHP099 inhibits both its expression and NP cell degeneration. Therefore, SHP099 delivery via injectable thermosensitive hydrogels is a potential treatment strategy for IDD.

Topics: Animals; Female; Hydrogels; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Nucleus Pulposus; Piperidines; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; Pyrimidines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Temperature

Most low back pain is caused by intervertebral discs (IVD) degeneration, a disease that prevalence is increasing with age. Halofuginone, an analog of ferbrifugine isolated from plant Dichroa febrifuga, has drawn much attention in recent years for the wide range of bioactivities in malaria, cancer, fibrotic and autoimmune diseases. In this study, we evaluated the benefit effects of halofuginone in IVD degeneration treatment in a validated rabbit puncture model. Halofuginone treatment could attenuate disc degeneration by suppressing the decrease of discs height and nucleus pulposus signal strength. Besides, halofuginone treatment could suppress mRNA and protein expression of collagen I in nucleus pulposus. This might possibly due to the inactivation of transform growth factor-β (TGFβ) signal pathway by down-regulating p-Samd3 and up-regulating inhibitory Smad7. Then, we evaluated the effects of halofuginone treatment on nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathway and its downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines. The level of p-p65 and p-IκBα was down-regulated in halofuginone treated group, indicating the inactivation of NF-κB signal pathway. The mRNA expression of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) was decreased in nucleus pulposus too, indicating the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, halofuginone treatment could attenuate IVD degeneration and this was possibly due to suppressing of collagen I production and inactivation of TGFβ and NF-κB signal pathway in nucleus pulposus of degenerated discs. These results suggest that halofuginone has the potential for IVD degeneration treatment, but more research is needed to validate this.

Topics: Animals; Collagen Type I; Female; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; NF-kappa B; Piperidines; Quinazolinones; Rabbits; Signal Transduction; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Intervertebral discs consist of an extracellular matrix (ECM) with a central gelatinous nucleus pulposus (NP) enclosed in an outer layer known as the annulus fibrosus. ECM metabolic disorders result in loss of boundary between the annulus fibrosus and NP, which can lead to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, mediate the progression of IDD. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and is known to be induced by IL-1β. APO866 is an inhibitor of NAD biosynthesis and is involved in autophagy. LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3) is a key regulator of autophagy and is used as an indicator of increased autophagy. Herein, we investigate the role of APO866 in regulating autophagy in NP cells and IL-1β mediated NP cell degeneration and apoptosis.. NP cells were extracted from IDD tissues and cultured in DMEM/F12 medium. Nampt was induced by different concentrations of IL-1β (0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 ng/mL) for 24 h or NP cells were treated with 10 ng/mL IL-1β for 0, 6, 12, 48 h. QRT-PCR and western blots were used to detect Nampt and ECM-related protein expression in NP tissue of patients with IDD and in NP cells. Confocal analysis was used to detect membrane-bound LC3, Aggrecan, and Collagen II.. Nampt is expressed in NP tissue at higher levels in severe grades of IDD (Grade IV and V) compared with low grades (Grade II and III). In NP cells, 10 ng/mL IL-1β induced Nampt expression for 48 h, increased expression of the degradative-associated proteins, ADAMTS4/5 and MMP-3/13, and decreased expression of ECM-related proteins, Aggrecan and Collagen II. However, the Nampt inhibitor APO866 blocked IL-1β induction, and the knockdown of Nampt expression increased the expression of ECM proteins that were inhibited by IL-1β. Moreover, evidence provided by the autophagic markers LC3 and Beclin-1 indicated that APO866 induced NP cell autophagy. Furthermore, although APO866 inhibited the downregulated expression of ECM-related proteins by IL-1β, this function was blocked by autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine.. APO866 protects NP cells and induces autophagy by inhibiting IL-1β-induced NP cell degeneration and apoptosis, which may have therapeutic potential in IDD.

Topics: Acrylamides; ADAMTS4 Protein; Aggrecans; Autophagy; Cells, Cultured; Collagen Type II; Cytokines; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Female; Humans; Interleukin-1beta; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Middle Aged; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; Nucleus Pulposus; Piperidines; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering

Laboratory study.. To elucidate the potential involvement of the interleukin-6 (IL-6)/Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activator of transcription (STAT3) pathway in the development of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration.. IL-6 plays a crucial role in IVD degeneration; however, the downstream intracellular signaling of IL-6 in the IVD is not fully understood.. The expression levels of IL-6 and suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), a target gene of the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway, were evaluated in rat and human degenerated IVD samples. The effects of IL-6 on primary rat annulus fibrosus (AF) cells were analyzed using quantitative PCR, immunocytochemistry, and Western blotting. The potential efficacy of a JAK inhibitor, CP690,550, in neutralizing the effect of IL-6 was evaluated in vitro.. A high expression of IL-6 and SOCS3 was observed in both rat and human degenerated IVD samples. In rat AF cells, IL-6 markedly induced the phosphorylation of STAT3 and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloprotease-13. CP690,550 significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of STAT3 and offset the catabolic effect of IL-6 in rat AF cells.. Our results suggest that the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration and that CP690,550 suppresses the catabolic effect of the IL-6 in the IVD.. N/A.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Annulus Fibrosus; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Humans; Interleukin-6; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Janus Kinases; Middle Aged; Piperidines; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrimidines; Pyrroles; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Signal Transduction; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein

Piperine is an exact of the active phenolic component from Black pepper. It has been reported to have many biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a degenerative disease closely relate to inflammation of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. This study aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effects of piperine in rat intervertebral disc using in vitro and ex vivo analyzes. We demonstrated that piperine could inhibit LPS induced expression and production of inflammatory factors and catabolic proteases in NP cells culture model. It significantly inhibited multiple inflammatory factors and oxidative stress-associated genes (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS), MMPs (MMP-3, MMP-13), ADAMTS (ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5) mRNA expression and NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, piperine could reverse the LPS-induced inhibition of gene expression of aggrecan and collagen-II. Histologic and dimethylmethylene blue analysis indicated piperine could also against LPS induced proteoglycan (PG) depletion in a rat intervertebral disc culture model. Western blot results showed that piperine inhibited the LPS-mediated phosphorylation of JNK and activation of NF-κB. Finally, our results demonstrated the ability of piperine to antagonize LPS-mediated inflammation of NP cells and suppression of PG in rat intervertebral disc, suggesting a potential agent for treatment of IDD in future.

Topics: Aggrecans; Alkaloids; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Benzodioxoles; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Collagen Type II; Cytoprotection; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Regulation; Inflammation Mediators; Intervertebral Disc; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Lipopolysaccharides; Metalloendopeptidases; NF-kappa B; Organ Culture Techniques; Phosphorylation; Piperidines; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Time Factors