Mechanism Of MicroRNA-146a-mediated IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Pathway In Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Objective To investigate the mechanism of MicroRNA-146a-mediated interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(IL-6/STAT3)signaling pathway in lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods 10 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation(observation group)and 10 patients with lumbar burst fracture(control group)were selected.The nucleus pulposus tissue of lesion was taken by surgery,Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression of MicroRNA,146a and cell culture and identification were performed;MicroRNA-146a empty vector,MicroRNA-146a mimic and MicroRNA-146a inhibitor were respectively co-cultured with two groups of cells for 24h,and transfection efficiencies were detected;the levels of cell IL-6,type II collagen(Col II)and aggrecan were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the expression levels of STAT3,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-3 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motifs(ADAMTS)were detected by Western blot.Results The levels of MicroRNA-146a in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group.There were no differences in comparisons of IL-6,Col ?,aggrecan,STAT3,MMP-3 and ADAMTS levels before and after treatment in the control group(p>0.05).The levels of cell MicroRNA-146a,IL-6,STAT3,MMP-3 and AD AMTS were distinctly in the observation group than those in the control group before treatment,Col II and aggrecan levels were lower in the control group,and the differences had statistical significance(p<0.05).The levels of cell IL-6,STAT3,MMP-3 and ADAMTS were increased after treatment with MicroRNA-146a mimic when compared with the MicroRNA-146a empty vector in the observation group,and Col ? and aggrecan levels were decreased,and the differences had statistical significance(p<0.05);however,cells treated by MicroRNA-146a inhibitor displayed the opposite result(p<0.05).Conclusion IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway can be mediated by the high expression of MicroRNA-146a to regulate the occurrence of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.