A thermosensitive, reactive oxygen species-responsive, MR409-encapsulated hydrogel ameliorates disc degeneration in rats by inhibiting the secretory autophagy pathway.

ABSTRACT: Lumbar disc degeneration is a common cause of chronic low back pain and an important contributor to various degenerative lumbar spinal disorders. However, currently there is currently no effective therapeutic strategy for treating disc degeneration. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mediates disc degeneration by inducing apoptotic death of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and degradation of the NP extracellular matrix. Here, we confirmed that extracellular secretion of IL-1β via secretory autophagy contributes to disc degeneration, and demonstrate that a thermosensitive reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive hydrogel loaded with a synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone analog (MR409) can protect against needle puncture-induced disc degeneration in rats. Methods:

SUBMITTER: Zheng Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7681093 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature