Protective role of the alpha-1-antitrypsin in intervertebral disc degeneration.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a complex disease with high prevalence. It suggests that cell death, senescence, and extracellular matrix degradation are involved in the pathogenesis. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), a serine protease inhibitor, was previously correlated with inflammation-related diseases. However, its function on intervertebral disc degeneration remains unclear.

METHODS:

A latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay measured the serum level of AAT. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot were used to testify the expression of RNA and proteins related to cell apoptosis and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The animal model for intervertebral disc degeneration was built by disc puncture. The degeneration grades were analyzed by safranin o staining.

RESULTS:

We showed that alpha-1 antitrypsin could ameliorate intervertebral disc degeneration in vitro and in vivo. We also found that the serum alpha-1 antitrypsin level in Intervertebral disc degeneration patients is negative related to the severity of intervertebral disc degeneration. Moreover, alpha-1 antitrypsin was also showed to suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) induced WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway activation in human nucleus pulposus cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study provides evidence for AAT to serve as a potential therapeutic reagent for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.

• Authors: Weikun Liu, Yanfu Wang
• Journal: Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research (J Orthop Surg Res) Vol. 16 Issue 1 Pg. 516 (Aug 20 2021) ISSN: 1749-799X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34416893 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021. The Author(s).

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis
• Cells, Cultured
• Humans
• Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
• Nucleus Pulposus
• Wnt Signaling Pathway (physiology)