Melatonin alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration by disrupting the IL-1β/NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome positive feedback loop.

ABSTRACT: The inflammatory response is induced by the overexpression of inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin (IL)-1β, and is one of the main causes of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). NLR pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is an important source of IL-1β. As an anti-inflammatory neuroendocrine hormone, melatonin plays various roles in different pathophysiological conditions. However, its roles in IVDD are still not well understood and require more examination. First, we demonstrated that melatonin delayed the progression of IVDD and relieved IVDD-related low back pain in a rat needle puncture IVDD model; moreover, NLRP3 inflammasome activation (NLRP3, p20, and IL-1β levels) was significantly upregulated in severely degenerated human discs and a rat IVDD model. Su

SUBMITTER: Chen F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7028926 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature