BackgroundIn ammation is the primary pathological phenomenon associated with disc degeneration; accordingly, the in ammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) plays a crucial role in disc degeneration. M1 macrophages produce proin ammatory cytokines that facilitate the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).However, the anti-in ammatory and regenerative effects of M2 macrophages on nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in IDD progression remain unknown. Here, we aimed to determine the role of M2 macrophages in IDD progression.
MethodsM2 conditioned medium (M2CM) was harvested and puri ed from THP-1 cells; it was then used for culturing human NPCs and a mouse intervertebral disc (IVD) organ culture model. NPCs and IVD organ models were divided into the following three groups: group 1 was treated with 10% fetal bovine serum to actas the control, group 2 was treated with 10 ng/ml TNF-α, and group 3 was treated with 10 ng/ml TNFα and M2CMto act as the co-culture group. After 3 to 14 days, cell proliferation (CCK-8 assay and western blotting for proliferation markers), extracellular matrix synthesis (quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immuno uorescence), apoptosis (TUNEL staining and western blotting), and NPC senescence (senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining and western blotting) were assessed.
ResultsCD206 and interleukin (IL)-10 levels were increased after 48 h of induction for M2 macrophages (both p<0.01). Cell proliferation was decreased in TNF-α-treated NPCs and was inhibited by M2CM co-culture.Moreover, TNF-α treatment enhanced the apoptosis, senescence, and expression of in ammatory factorrelated genes, including IL-6, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5, whereas M2CM co-culture signi cantly reversed these effects. M2CM promoted aggrecan and collagen II synthesis but reduced collagen Iα1 levels in TNF-α treatment groups. Using our established three-dimensional murine IVD organ culture model, M2CM suppressed the inhibitory effect of TNF-α of the TNF-α-rich environment.
ConclusionsCollectively, these results indicate that M2CM promotes cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis and inhibits in ammation, apoptosis, and NPC senescence. This study therefore highlights the therapeutic potential of M2CM for IDD.