Inflammatory cytokines induce caveolin-1/?-catenin signalling in rat nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis through the p38 MAPK pathway.
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells is a major cause of intervertebral disc degeneration. To elucidate relationships between caveolin-1 and cytokine-induced apoptosis, we investigated the role of caveolin-1 in cytokine-induced apoptosis in rat NP cells and the related signalling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Rat NP cells were treated with interleukin (IL)-1? or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?), and knockdown of caveolin-1 and ?-catenin was achieved using specific siRNAs. Then, apoptotic level of rat NP cells and expression and activation of caveolin-1/?-catenin signalling were assessed by flow cytometric analysis, qRT-PCR, western blotting and luciferase assays. The relationship between the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and caveolin-1 promoter activity was also determined by luciferase assays. RESULTS:IL-1? and TNF-? induced apoptosis, upregulated caveolin-1 expression and activated Wnt/?-catenin signalling in rat NP cells, while the induction effect of cytokines was reversed by caveolin-1 siRNA and ?-catenin siRNA. Promotion of rat NP cell apoptosis and nuclear translocation of ?-catenin induced by caveolin-1 overexpression were abolished by ?-catenin siRNA. Furthermore, pretreatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor or dominant negative-p38, blocked cytokine-dependent induction of caveolin-1/?-catenin expression and activity. CONCLUSIONS:The results revealed the role of p38/caveolin-1/?-catenin in inflammatory cytokine-induced apoptosis in rat NP cells. Thus, controlling p38/caveolin-1/?-catenin activity seemed to regulate IL-1?- and TNF-?-induced apoptosis in the NP during intervertebral disc degeneration.
SUBMITTER: Wang J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6496863 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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