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Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration
Published on: July 8, 2021
Roles of miR-182 in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and its Potential Prognostic Value
Background:
MicroRNAs were reported to be involved in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). This study focused on the potential prognostic value and the underlying mechanism of miR-182 in IDD.
Methods:
The expression level of miR-182 in plasma samples from 60 IDD patients and 60 healthy controls were examined in the present study. Then, the relationship between miR-182 expression and clinical features of IDD patients was analyzed. Moreover, the nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were cultured and transfected with either miR-182 inhibitor, mimics, or NC to explore the effects of miR-182 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, expression levels of proliferation and apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 were also evaluated.
Results:
The expression level of miR-182 was dramatically increased in plasma samples of IDD patients compared with the controls. Moreover, ROC analysis indicated that miR-182 was a feasible diagnostic indicator for the diagnosis of IDD. According to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, the prognosis of patients with the lower expression levels of miR-182 was better than for those with the higher expression levels of miR-182 in IDD. Furthermore, the miR-182 inhibitor significantly increased the proliferation, decreased the apoptosis of human NP cells, and altered the expression of proliferation and apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3. On the contrary, miR-182 mimics notably inhibited proliferation but promoted apoptosis of human NP cells and increased Bax and Caspase-3 expressions while reducing the Bcl-2 level.
Conclusions:
miR-182 was negatively correlated with the prognosis of the IDD patients and affected the proliferation and apoptosis of NP cells in vitro.
Insights
MicroRNA-182 (miR-182) is elevated in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) patients, negatively impacting prognosis. Inhibiting miR-182 promotes nucleus pulposus cell proliferation and reduces apoptosis, revealing its role in IDD progression.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Molecular biology
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- MicroRNAs are implicated in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) pathogenesis.
- This study investigates the role of miR-182 in IDD progression and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prognostic value of miR-182 in IDD.
- To elucidate the underlying mechanism of miR-182 in nucleus pulposus (NP) cell function.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma miR-182 levels in 60 IDD patients and 60 controls.
- Analyzed the correlation between miR-182 expression and IDD clinical features (JOA score).
- Investigated miR-182 effects on NP cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro using inhibitors and mimics.
Main Results:
- Plasma miR-182 levels were significantly higher in IDD patients.
- ROC analysis confirmed miR-182 as a diagnostic indicator for IDD.
- Lower miR-182 expression correlated with better prognosis (higher JOA score).
- miR-182 inhibition enhanced NP cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis; miR-182 mimics had opposite effects.
- miR-182 modulated expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3).
Conclusions:
- miR-182 is negatively correlated with IDD patient prognosis.
- miR-182 influences NP cell proliferation and apoptosis in vitro.
