Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Abnormal biomechanical environment and over-expression nitric oxide are the two important factors in the process of intervertebral disc degeneration.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of apigenin on the apoptotic rate and matrix metabolism of monolayer cultured human nucleus pulposus cells in vitro under different hydrostatic pressures.
METHODS: In the hydrostatic pressure loading system, 0.1-3 MPa pressure was imposed on the human nucleus pulposus cells (passage 4) in monolayer culture in vitro for 2 hours, while using apigenin and nitric oxide donor to intervene on nucleus pulposus cells, and analyzing the effect of apigenin on the apoptotic rate, matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metabolism of human nucleus pulposus cells under hydrostatic pressure.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Under 0.3 MPa hydrostatic pressure, apigenin could reduce the degradation of extracellular matrix by regulating the balance between matrix metallo proteinases-3 (MMP-3) and human tissue inhibitor of metal protease-1 (TIMP-1), and improving nucleus pulposus cells inhibition status due to the high concentration of nitric oxide. Under 3 MPa hydrostatic pressure, apigenin had a role in reducing the apoptotic rate of nucleus pulposus cells and could alleviate the unbalance between the MMP-3 and TIMP-1. The results showed that apigenin has an influence on the function status and apoptotic rate of nucleus pulposus cells, the balance between MMP-3 and TIMP-1, and the effects are different under different hydrostatic pressure environments.