Apigenin Alleviates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration via Restoring Autophagy Flux in Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Chenglong Xie; Chenglong Xie; Chenglong Xie; Yifeng Shi; Yifeng Shi; Yifeng Shi; Zuoxi Chen; Xin Zhou; Xin Zhou; Peng Luo; Peng Luo; Peng Luo; Chenxuan Hong; Chenxuan Hong; Chenxuan Hong; Naifeng Tian; Naifeng Tian; Naifeng Tian; Yaosen Wu; Yaosen Wu; Yaosen Wu; Yifei Zhou; Yifei Zhou; Yifei Zhou; Yan Lin; Yan Lin; Yan Lin; Haicheng Dou; Haicheng Dou; Haicheng Dou; Aimin Wu; Aimin Wu; Aimin Wu; Qishan Huang; Qishan Huang; Qishan Huang; Xiaolei Zhang; Xiaolei Zhang; Xiaolei Zhang; Xiaolei Zhang; Xiangyang Wang; Xiangyang Wang; Xiangyang Wang

Apigenin Alleviates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration via Restoring Autophagy Flux in Nucleus Pulposus Cells

2022

Oxidative stress–induced apoptosis and senescence of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells play a crucial role in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Accumulation of studies has shown that activated autophagy and enhanced autophagic flux can alleviate IVDD. In this study, we explored the effects of apigenin on IVDD in vitro and in vivo. Apigenin was found to inhibit tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)–induced apoptosis, senescence, and ECM degradation in NP cells. In addition, apigenin treatment can restore the autophagic flux blockage caused by TBHP. Mechanistically, we found that TBHP may induce autophagosome and lysosome fusion interruption and lysosomal dysfunction, while apigenin alleviates these phenomena by promoting the nuclear translocation of TFEB via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, apigenin also exerts a protective effect against the progression of IVDD in the puncture-induced rat model. Taken together, these findings indicate that apigenin protects NP cells against TBHP-induced apoptosis, senescence, and ECM degradation via restoration of autophagic flux in vitro, and it also ameliorates IVDD progression in rats in vivo, demonstrating its potential for serving as an effective therapeutic agent for IVDD.

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