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Published on: July 21, 2023
TRPC3 induces intervertebral disc degeneration by mediating the Ca2+/NF-κB pathway to inhibit autophagy
Yingchao Gao1, Ning Zhang2, Jun-Fei Zhang3
1Department of Orthopedics, 942nd Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the People's Liberation Army of China, Yinchuan, China.
Background:
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the primary cause of lower back pain. Transient receptor potential canonical 3 (TRPC3) is a nonselective cation channel permeable to Ca2+.
Objectives:
This study explores the mechanisms by which the TRPC3-mediated Ca2+/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway regulates autophagy in IDD.
Material And Methods:
An IDD rat model was established using the annulus fibrosus puncture method and was treated with local intraspinal injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-shRNA targeting TRPC3. Primary human nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were transfected with TRPC3 siRNA and subsequently treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC; an NF-κB inhibitor), rapamycin (RAPA), or 3-methyladenine (3-MA), respectively. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and flow cytometry were performed.
Results:
TRPC3 expression was significantly increased in IDD rats (p < 0.05). TRPC3 shRNA ameliorated histopathological damage in IDD rats and promoted the expression of autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), Beclin-1, and LC3-II (all p < 0.05). In vitro, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) increased Ca2+ levels, siRNA TRPC3 reduced them, and PDTC further decreased them (p < 0.05). In addition, siRNA TRPC3 increased the expression of ATG5, Beclin-1, and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio and inhibited phosphorylation of p-NF-κB p65 in NPCs (p < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry showed that siRNA TRPC3-induced autophagy promoted apoptosis in NPCs (p < 0.05). Furthermore, siRNA TRPC3 increased the levels of aggrecan and collagen II and decreased matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) expression (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
TRPC3 exacerbates IDD by inhibiting protective autophagy via activation of the Ca2+/NF-κB signaling pathway. Knockdown of TRPC3 promotes autophagy, which in turn influences NPC apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism. This study offers potential novel strategies for IDD prevention and treatment.
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