Open Access

Taurine attenuates ER stress‑associated apoptosis and catabolism in nucleus pulposus cells

  • Authors:
    • Liuxie Yang
    • Zhenhuan Li
    • Yueping Ouyang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 18, 2022     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2022.12688
  • Article Number: 172
  • Copyright: © Yang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Nucleus pulposus (NP) apoptosis and subsequent excessive degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are key pathological characteristics of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The present study aims to examine the signaling processes underlying the effects of taurine on IDD, with specific focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‑mediated apoptosis and ECM degradation, in NP cells. To clarify the role of taurine in IDD, NP cells were treated with various concentrations of taurine and IL‑1β or thapsigargin (TG). Cell Counting Kit‑8, western blotting, TUNEL, immunofluorescence assays and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR were applied to measure cell viability, the expression of ER stress‑associated proteins (GRP78, CHOP and caspase‑12), apoptosis and the levels of metabolic factors associated with ECM (MMP‑1, 3, 9, ADAMTS‑4, 5 and collagen II), respectively. Taurine was found to attenuate ER stress and prevent apoptosis in NP cells induced by IL‑1β treatment. Additionally, taurine significantly decreased the expression of ER stress‑activated glucose regulatory protein 78, C/EBP homologous protein and caspase‑12. TUNEL results revealed that taurine decreased the number of apoptotic TG‑treated NP cells. TG‑treated NP cells also exhibited characteristics of increased ECM degradation, supported by observations of increased MMP‑1, MMP‑3, MMP‑9 and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)‑4 and ADAMTS‑5 expression in addition to decreased collagen‑II expression. However, taurine treatment significantly reversed all indicators of excessive ECM catabolism aforementioned. These data suggest that taurine can mediate protection against apoptosis and ECM degradation in NP cells by inhibiting ER stress, implicating therapeutic potential for the treatment of IDD.
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May-2022
Volume 25 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Yang L, Li Z and Ouyang Y: Taurine attenuates ER stress‑associated apoptosis and catabolism in nucleus pulposus cells. Mol Med Rep 25: 172, 2022
APA
Yang, L., Li, Z., & Ouyang, Y. (2022). Taurine attenuates ER stress‑associated apoptosis and catabolism in nucleus pulposus cells. Molecular Medicine Reports, 25, 172. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2022.12688
MLA
Yang, L., Li, Z., Ouyang, Y."Taurine attenuates ER stress‑associated apoptosis and catabolism in nucleus pulposus cells". Molecular Medicine Reports 25.5 (2022): 172.
Chicago
Yang, L., Li, Z., Ouyang, Y."Taurine attenuates ER stress‑associated apoptosis and catabolism in nucleus pulposus cells". Molecular Medicine Reports 25, no. 5 (2022): 172. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2022.12688