ERBB2-PTGS2 axis promotes intervertebral disc degeneration by regulating senescence of nucleus pulposus cells. 2023

Zhao-Cheng Li, and Fu An
Department of Spine Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, PR China.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is considered one of the main causes of low back pain and lumbar disc herniation. Various studies have shown that disc cell senescence plays a critical role in this process. however, its role in IDD is yet unclear. In this study, we explored the role of senescence-related genes (SR-DEGs) and its underlying mechanism in IDD. A total of 1325 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database GSE41883. 30 SR-DEGs were identified for further functional enrichment and pathway analysis, and two hub SR-DEGs (ERBB2 and PTGS2) were selected to construct transcription factor (TF)-gene interaction and TF-miRNA coregulatory networks, and 10 candidate drugs were screened for the treatment of IDD. Last but not least, in vitro experiments show that ERBB2 expression decreased and PTGS2 expression increased in human nucleus pulposus (NP) cell senescence model treated with TNF-α. After lentivirus-mediated overexpression of ERBB2, the expression of PTGS2 decreased and the senescence level of NP cells decreased. Overexpression of PTGS2 reversed the anti-senescence effects of ERBB2. The findings in this study suggested that ERBB2 overexpression further reduced NP cell senescence by inhibiting PTGS2 levels, which ultimately alleviated IDD. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the roles of senescence-related genes in IDD and highlight a novel target of ERBB2-PTGS2 axis for therapeutic strategies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000070614 Nucleus Pulposus Fibrocartilage inner core of the intervertebral disc. Prolapsed or bulged nucleus pulposus leads to INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISPLACEMENT while proliferation of cells in the nucleus pulposus is associated with INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DEGENERATION.
D016922 Cellular Senescence Process by which cells irreversibly stop dividing and enter a state of permanent growth arrest without undergoing CELL DEATH. Senescence can be induced by DNA DAMAGE or other cellular stresses, such as OXIDATIVE STRESS. Aging, Cell,Cell Aging,Cell Senescence,Replicative Senescence,Senescence, Cellular,Senescence, Replicative,Cell Ageing,Cellular Ageing,Cellular Aging,Ageing, Cell,Ageing, Cellular,Aging, Cellular,Senescence, Cell
D051546 Cyclooxygenase 2 An inducibly-expressed subtype of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase. It plays an important role in many cellular processes and INFLAMMATION. It is the target of COX2 INHIBITORS. COX-2 Prostaglandin Synthase,Cyclo-Oxygenase II,Cyclooxygenase-2,PGHS-2,PTGS2,Prostaglandin H Synthase-2,COX 2 Prostaglandin Synthase,Cyclo Oxygenase II,Prostaglandin H Synthase 2,Prostaglandin Synthase, COX-2,Synthase, COX-2 Prostaglandin
D055959 Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Degenerative changes in the INTERVERTEBRAL DISC due to aging or structural damage, especially to the vertebral end-plates. Degenerative Disc Disease,Degenerative Intervertebral Discs,Degenerative Intervertebral Disks,Intervertebral Disk Degeneration,Disc Degeneration,Disc Degradation,Disk Degeneration,Disk Degradation,Degeneration, Disc,Degeneration, Disk,Degeneration, Intervertebral Disc,Degeneration, Intervertebral Disk,Degenerative Disc Diseases,Degenerative Intervertebral Disc,Degenerative Intervertebral Disk,Degradation, Disc,Degradation, Disk,Disc Degeneration, Intervertebral,Disc Degenerations,Disc Degradations,Disc Disease, Degenerative,Disc, Degenerative Intervertebral,Disk Degeneration, Intervertebral,Disk Degenerations,Disk Degradations,Disk, Degenerative Intervertebral,Intervertebral Disc Degenerations,Intervertebral Disc, Degenerative,Intervertebral Disk Degenerations,Intervertebral Disk, Degenerative
D018719 Receptor, ErbB-2 A cell surface protein-tyrosine kinase receptor that is overexpressed in a variety of ADENOCARCINOMAS. It has extensive homology to and heterodimerizes with the EGF RECEPTOR, the ERBB-3 RECEPTOR, and the ERBB-4 RECEPTOR. Activation of the erbB-2 receptor occurs through heterodimer formation with a ligand-bound erbB receptor family member. HER-2 Proto-Oncogene Protein,Proto-Oncogene Protein HER-2,Proto-Oncogene Protein p185(neu),c-erbB-2 Protein,erbB-2 Proto-Oncogene Protein,erbB-2 Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinase,neu Proto-Oncogene Protein,Antigens, CD340,CD340 Antigen,Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases,Metastatic Lymph Node Gene 19 Protein,Neu Receptor,Oncogene Protein HER-2,Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-erbB-2,Proto-oncogene Protein Neu,Receptor, Neu,Receptors, erbB-2,Tyrosine Kinase-type Cell Surface Receptor HER2,p185(c-neu),p185erbB2 Protein,CD340 Antigens,Erb b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases,ErbB-2 Receptor,HER 2 Proto Oncogene Protein,Oncogene Protein HER 2,Proto Oncogene Protein HER 2,Proto Oncogene Proteins c erbB 2,Proto-Oncogene Protein, HER-2,Proto-Oncogene Protein, erbB-2,Proto-Oncogene Protein, neu,Tyrosine Kinase type Cell Surface Receptor HER2,c erbB 2 Protein,erbB 2 Proto Oncogene Protein,erbB 2 Receptor Protein Tyrosine Kinase,erbB-2 Receptors,neu Proto Oncogene Protein
D035683 MicroRNAs Small double-stranded, non-protein coding RNAs, 21-25 nucleotides in length generated from single-stranded microRNA gene transcripts by the same RIBONUCLEASE III, Dicer, that produces small interfering RNAs (RNA, SMALL INTERFERING). They become part of the RNA-INDUCED SILENCING COMPLEX and repress the translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) of target RNA by binding to homologous 3'UTR region as an imperfect match. The small temporal RNAs (stRNAs), let-7 and lin-4, from C. elegans, are the first 2 miRNAs discovered, and are from a class of miRNAs involved in developmental timing. RNA, Small Temporal,Small Temporal RNA,miRNA,stRNA,Micro RNA,MicroRNA,Primary MicroRNA,Primary miRNA,miRNAs,pre-miRNA,pri-miRNA,MicroRNA, Primary,RNA, Micro,Temporal RNA, Small,miRNA, Primary,pre miRNA,pri miRNA

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