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Cao Y, Li J, Qiu S, Ni S, Duan Y. LncRNA XIST facilitates hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum by activating VEGFA-mediated autophagy through sponging miR-302b-3p. Biol Direct 2023; 18:25. [PMID: 37226251 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00383-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidences have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) display crucial regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of numerous diseases. However, the function and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum (HLF) have not been report. METHODS The integrated analysis of lncRNAs sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and real-time quantitative PCR were used to identify the key lncRNAs involved in HLF progression. Gain- and loss-function experiments were used to explore the functions of lncRNA X inactive specific transcript (XIST) in HLF. Mechanistically, bioinformatics binding site analysis, RNA pull-down, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and rescue experiments were utilized to investigate the mechanism by which XIST acts as a molecular sponge of miR-302b-3p to regulate VEGFA-mediated autophagy. RESULTS We identified that XIST was outstandingly upregulated in HLF tissues and cells. Moreover, the up-regulation of XIST strongly correlated with the thinness and fibrosis degree of LF in LSCS patients. Functionally, knockdown of XIST drastically inhibited proliferation, anti-apoptosis, fibrosis and autophagy of HLF cells in vitro and suppressed hypertrophy and fibrosis of LF tissues in vivo. Intestinally, we uncovered that overexpression of XIST significantly promoted proliferation, anti-apoptosis and fibrosis ability of HLF cells by activating autophagy. Mechanistic studies illustrated that XIST directly medullated the VEGFA-mediated autophagy through sponging miR-302b-3p, thereby enhancing the development and progression of HLF. CONCLUSION Our findings highlighted that the XIST/miR-302b-3p/VEGFA-mediated autophagy axis is involved in development and progression of HLF. At the same time, this study will complement the blank of lncRNA expression profiles in HLF, which laid the foundation for further exploration of the relationship between lncRNAs and HLF in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Cao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sujun Qiu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Songjia Ni
- Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Duan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Zheng ZY, Li P, Ao X, Qian L, Peng YX, Chu J, Jiang T, Lian ZN, Zhang ZM, Wang L. Characterization of a Novel Model of Lumbar Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy in Bipedal Standing Mice. Orthop Surg 2021; 13:2457-2467. [PMID: 34651434 PMCID: PMC8654658 DOI: 10.1111/os.13156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the main causes of hypertrophied ligamentum flavum (HLF) and the possibility of using bipedal standing mouse model to simulate the pathological changes in human HLF. Methods Thirty‐two 8‐week‐old C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 16) and control group (n = 16). In the experimental group, mice were induced to adopt a bipedal standing posture by their hydrophobia. The experimental mice were maintained bipedal standing for 8 h a day with an interval of 2 h to consume food and water. The control mice were placed in a similar environment without bipedal standing. Eight 18‐month‐old C57BL/6 male mice were compared to evaluate the LF degeneration due to aging factor. Three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction and finite element models were carried out to analyze the stress and strain distribution of the mouse LF in sprawling and bipedal standing postures. Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE), Verhoeff‐Van Gieson (VVG), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining were used to evaluate the LF degeneration of mice and humans. RT‐qPCR and immunofluorescence analysis were used to evaluate the expressions of fibrosis‐related factors and inflammatory cytokines of COL1A1, COL3A1, α‐SMA, MMP2, IL‐1β, and COX‐2. Results The von Mises stress (8.85 × 10−2 MPa) and maximum principal strain (6.64 × 10−1) in LF were increased 4944 and 7703 times, respectively, in bipedal standing mice. HE staining showed that the mouse LF area was greater in the bipedal standing 10‐week‐old group ([10.01 ± 2.93] × 104 μm2) than that in the control group ([3.76 ± 1.87] × 104 μm2) and 18‐month‐old aged group ([6.09 ± 2.70] × 104 μm2). VVG staining showed that the HLF of mice (3.23 ± 0.58) and humans (2.23 ± 0.31) had a similar loss of elastic fibers and an increase in collagen fibers. The cell density was higher during the process of HLF in mice (39.63 ± 4.81) and humans (23.25 ± 2.05). IHC staining showed that the number of α‐SMA positive cells were significantly increased in HLF of mice (1.63 ± 0.74) and humans (3.50 ± 1.85). The expressions of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis‐related factors of COL1A1, COL3A1, α‐SMA, MMP2, IL‐1β, and COX‐2 were consistently higher in bipedal standing group than the control group. Conclusion Our study suggests that 3D finite element models can help analyze the abnormal stress and strain distributions of LF in modeling mice. Mechanical stress is the main cause of hypertrophied ligamentum flavum compared to aging. The bipedal standing mice model can reflect the pathological characteristics of human HLF. The bipedal standing mice model can provide a standardized condition to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of mechanical stress‐induced HLF in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Yu Zheng
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Ao
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Qian
- Department of Anatomy, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong-Xing Peng
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Chu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng-Nan Lian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhong-Min Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China.,Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopaedics, Guangzhou, China
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Cao Y, Zhan Y, Qiu S, Chen Z, Gong K, Ni S, Duan Y. Integrative analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation and single-nucleotide polymorphism identified ACSM5 as a suppressor of lumbar ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Arthritis Res Ther 2021; 23:251. [PMID: 34593020 PMCID: PMC8482693 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-021-02625-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum (HLF) is a common lumbar degeneration disease (LDD) with typical symptoms of low back pain and limb numbness owing to an abnormal pressure on spinal nerves. Previous studies revealed HLF might be caused by fibrosis, inflammatory, and other bio-pathways. However, a global analysis of HLF is needed severely. METHODS A genome-wide DNA methylation and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis were performed from five LDD patients with HLF and five LDD patients without HLF. Comprehensive integrated analysis was performed using bioinformatics analysis and the validated experiments including Sanger sequencing, methylation-specific PCR, qPCR and ROC analysis. Furthermore, the function of novel genes in ligamentum flavum cells (LFCs) was detected to explore the molecular mechanism in HLF through knock down experiment, overexpression experiment, CCK8 assay, apoptosis assay, and so on. RESULTS We identified 69 SNP genes and 735 661 differentially methylated sites that were enriched in extracellular matrix, inflammatory, and cell proliferation. A comprehensive analysis demonstrated key genes in regulating the development of HLF including ACSM5. Furthermore, the hypermethylation of ACSM5 that was mediated by DNMT1 led to downregulation of ACSM5 expression, promoted the proliferation and fibrosis, and inhibited the apoptosis of LFCs. CONCLUSION This study revealed that DNMT1/ACSM5 signaling could enhance HLF properties in vitro as a potential therapeutic strategy for HLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Cao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
| | - Yenan Zhan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
| | - Sujun Qiu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
| | - Kaiqin Gong
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
| | - Songjia Ni
- Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Yang Duan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
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Abstract
Study Design The serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Purpose To compare the serum levels of TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 between patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and disc herniation. Overview of Literature It has been reported that increased concentrations of TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the ligamentum flavum might be a possible pathogenesis for ligamentum flavum hypertrophy in spinal stenosis. However, it is not determined whether this phenomenon in spinal stenosis is a local or systemic problem. Methods The concentrations of TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were quantitatively analyzed by ELISA in the ligamentum flavum and serum of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (n=16) and disc herniation (n=16). The thickness of ligamentum flavum was measured on axial T1-weigted magnetic resonance image. The biochemical and radiological results were compared for the two conditions. Results The thickness of the ligamentum flavum was larger in patients with spinal stenosis compared with that with disc herniation (p=0.001). The mean concentrations of TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in the ligamentum flavum were significantly higher in patients with spinal stenosis than those with disc herniation (all, p < 0.05). However, the difference in serum levels of TGF-β1 (p=0.464), TIMP-1 (p=0.146) and TIMP-2 (p=0.794) was not significant between the lumbar spinal stenosis and disc herniation patients. Conclusions Despite increased levels of TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in the ligamentum flavum of spinal stenosis patients compared to disc herniation patients, the serum levels of TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were very similar in both groups. These results indicate that the role of TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 on hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum in spinal stenosis patients is a local phenomenon, not systemic.
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