Therapeutic potential of targeting the IRF2/POSTN/Notch1 axis in nucleus pulposus cells for intervertebral disc degeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a leading cause of low back pain, often linked to inflammation and pyroptosis in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. The role of Periostin (POSTN) in IDD remains unclear.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the influence of POSTN on pyroptosis and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in NP cells during IDD.

Methods

IVD samples were collected from patients undergoing spinal surgery and classified according to the Pfirrmann grading system. Human NP cells were cultured and treated with IL-1β to induce a pyroptotic phenotype. Western blotting, Immunofluorescence (IF), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assessed the expression levels of relevant proteins. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays verified th

SUBMITTER: Zhu D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11755837 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature