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. 2020 Nov 10;14:4801–4813. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S274812

Acacetin Alleviates Inflammation and Matrix Degradation in Nucleus Pulposus Cells and Ameliorates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in vivo

Hao Wang 1,*, Zengxin Jiang 1,*, Zhiying Pang 1, Tianyao Zhou 1, Yutong Gu 1,2,✉
PMCID: PMC7667005  PMID: 33204066

Abstract

Purpose

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders. The nucleus pulposus is the major component of the intervertebral disc, and nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) play a significant role in the normal functioning of the intervertebral disc. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation in NPCs contribute to the degeneration of intervertebral discs. Acacetin is a drug that exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on many types of cells. However, whether acacetin can relieve the degeneration of NPCs remains unknown.

Methods

NPCs were extracted from rat intervertebral discs. The NPCs were treated with tert-butyl peroxide (TBHP) to simulate a high-ROS environment, and acacetin was subsequently added. The contents of ROS, inflammatory mediators (COX-2, iNOS) and extracellular matrix components (aggrecan, collagen II, MMP13, MMP9, MMP3) were measured. Components of related signaling pathways (Nrf2, MAPK) were also evaluated. To determine the effect of acacetin in vivo, we simulated disc degeneration via needle puncture. Acacetin was then applied intraperitoneally, and the degenerative status was evaluated using MRI and histopathological analysis.

Results

In vitro, acacetin alleviated TBHP-induced ROS generation and upregulated the expression of antioxidant proteins, including HO-1, NQO1, and SOD. In addition, acacetin relieved the TBHP-induced generation of inflammatory mediators (COX-2, iNOS) and degradation of the extracellular matrix (aggrecan, collagen II, MMP13, MMP9, and MMP3). Acacetin exerted its effect by activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting p38, JNK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In vivo, acacetin ameliorated puncture-induced disc degeneration in a rat tail model, which was evaluated using MRI and histopathological analysis.

Conclusion

Acacetin alleviated IDD in vitro and in vivo and may have the potential to be developed as an effective treatment for IDD.

Keywords: acacetin, intervertebral disc degeneration, IDD, reactive oxygen species, ROS, inflammation

Introduction

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorder and accounts for nearly 40% of low back pain etiologies.1,2 Degenerative processes lead to morphological and physiological changes in the discs, ultimately decreasing the capability for movement and weight bearing.3 Current therapies for IDD mainly focus on relieving its symptoms rather than slowing or even reversing the degenerative process. For end-stage symptomatic patients, the surgical removal of the disc and fusion of the adjacent vertebra are inevitable.4

Nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and their extracellular matrix (ECM) are the main components of the nucleus pulposus. Their proper functioning maintains the structural stability and normal functioning of the intervertebral disc. The mechanism underlying IDD has not been completely elucidated. However, it is generally accepted that ECM degradation and the generation of inflammatory mediators are typical characteristics of the degenerative process.5 These inflammatory mediators mainly consist of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which inhibit the synthesis of matrix components and facilitate the production of ECM-related catabolic enzymes.6–8 Numerous attempts to halt the degeneration process and restore normal functioning through methods such as stem cell transplantation,9 anti-inflammatory therapy10 and antiangiogenic therapy have shown favorable outcomes.11

Recently, accumulating evidence has indicated that the upregulated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of IDD.12 ROS are a series of active oxygen-containing chemical species, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2-) and free radicals.13 Excessive ROS levels have been widely detected in degenerative intervertebral discs. ROS accumulation inside NPCs interferes with normal physiological processes, activating various signaling pathways, including the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways,14,15 which then promote the expression of inflammatory mediators and ultimately accelerate ECM degradation. Scavenging intracellular ROS may help to alleviate the degeneration process. Multiple categories of drugs have been proven to be capable of scavenging ROS, including nonenzymatic antioxidants, polyphenols, ROS scavengers, herbal components and growth factors.16 These drugs can either scavenge ROS directly or work by stimulating the synthesis of endogenous antioxidant proteins.

Acacetin (5,7-dihydroxy-4ʹ-methoxyflavone) is one of the main compounds isolated from Agastache rugosa, a common traditional Chinese herb. Existing studies have shown that acacetin has antidiabetic,17 antidepressant,18 anticancer,19 antioxidant20 and anti-inflammatory21 properties. However, there has been no research concerning the therapeutic effect of acacetin on IDD. Thus, this study focused on the ROS-scavenging function of acacetin in rat NPCs and the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, rats with coccygeal intervertebral disc puncture-induced IDD were intraperitoneally injected with acacetin to determine the protective function of acacetin in vivo.

Materials and Methods

Reagents and Antibodies

Acacetin was obtained from Selleck Chemicals (Houston, Texas, United States) and diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, United States). Cell Counting Kit-8, HRP-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG, the Nuclear Protein and Cytoplasmic Protein Extraction Kit, electrochemiluminescence reagent, the Reactive Oxygen Species Assay Kit and the SOD Assay Kit with WST-8 were purchased from Beyotime (Shanghai, China). Tert-butyl peroxide (TBHP) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, United States). Primary antibodies against aggrecan, collagen II, MMP3 and MMP13 were obtained from Abcam (Cambridge, MA, United States). Antibodies against MMP9, HO-1, NQO1, Nrf2, Lamin B1, and GAPDH were purchased from the Proteintech Group (Wuhan, China). Antibodies against p38, p-p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p-ERK1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p-JNK were obtained from Cell Signaling Technology (Danvers, MA, United States). Collagenase type II, DMEM/F12 culture medium, fetal bovine serum, penicillin and streptomycin, and a 0.25% trypsin EDTA solution were purchased from Gibco (Grand Island, NY, United States). Reverse Transcript Master Mix and qPCR Master Mix were purchased from Promega (Madison, WI, United States). TRIzol reagent was obtained from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, United States). Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes were purchased from Millipore (Bedford, MA, United States).

Experimental Animals

For primary cell isolation and the generation of an IDD rat model, four- and eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were obtained from the Shanghai SLAC Laboratory Animal Company (Shanghai, China). The protocols for the animal care and use of the laboratory animals were approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Hospital. The operations were conducted in accordance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Primary Nucleus Pulposus Cell Isolation and Culture

Primary NPCs were isolated from SD rats. Four-week-old SD rats were euthanized by injecting an excess amount of sodium pentobarbital. Death was confirmed by checking their breathing and heartbeat. The verification of death was supplemented by percutaneous cardiac puncture. The gel-like tissue was separated from the lumbar discs and digested with 0.1% collagenase type II for two hours at 37°C. The isolated NPCs were centrifuged, resuspended and cultured in DMEM/F12 culture medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/mL penicillin and 100 μg/mL streptomycin. Upon reaching 80%-90% confluency, the NPCs were passaged using a 0.25% trypsin EDTA solution. The culture medium was replaced every two days, and NPCs between passage one and passage three were used in the experiments.

Cell Viability Assay

The viability of NPCs was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). The NPCs were cultured in 96-well plates at a density of 5000 cells per well for 24 hours. The cells were then treated with different concentrations of acacetin (0 µM, 0.1 µM, 0.3 µM, 1 µM, 3 µM, 10 µM) or DMSO for 24 or 48 hours. After the intervention, the culture medium was removed, and the NPCs were washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). One hundred microliters of serum-free DMEM/F12 solution containing 10 µL of CCK-8 was added to each well. The plates were then incubated at 37°C for two hours, after which the absorbance at 450 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer (FlexStation 3, Molecular Devices, San Jose, CA, United States).

Western Blotting

Total protein was extracted from the NPCs using RIPA lysis buffer with a protease and phosphate inhibitor cocktail. Nuclear protein was extracted using the Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Protein Extraction Kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Protein was separated through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. After blocking with a 5% nonfat milk solution, the membranes were incubated with the primary antibodies overnight. The membranes were then washed with TBST three times and incubated with the respective secondary antibodies for one hour. Finally, the blots were visualized via enhanced chemiluminescence on an imaging system (Tanon, Shanghai, China).

Real-Time PCR

The total RNA of the NPCs was extracted and isolated using TRIzol reagent according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The concentration and quality of the extracted RNA were measured on a Nanodrop spectrophotometer (DeNovix, Wilmington, DE, United States), and the cDNA was synthesized from 1 µg of the RNA using Reverse Transcript Master Mix. qPCR amplification was performed using an Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, United States) with a qPCR Master Mix Kit. GAPDH expression was used to normalize the Ct values. The primers for the genes evaluated in this study are listed in Table 1.

Table 1.

Primers’ Sequences Used in the Real-Time PCR

Name Forward Reverse
Collagen II ACGCTCAAGTCGCTGAACAACC ATCCAGTAGTCTCCGCTCTTCCAC
Aggrecan CTTCCCAACTATCCAGCCAT TCACACCGATAGATCCCAGA
MMP13 AACCAAGATGTGGAGTGCCTGATG CACATCAGACCAGACCTTGAAGGC
MMP9 AGGTGCCTCGGATGGTTATCG TGCTTGCCCAGGAAGACGAA
MMP3 GCTCATCCTACCCATTGCAT GCTTCCCTGTCATCTTCAGC
HO-1 ATACCCGCTACCTGGGTGAC TGTCACCCTGTGCTTGACCT
NQO1 ATCACCAGGTCTGCAGCTTC GCCATGAAGGAGGCTGCTGT
COX-2 CAAATCCTTGCTGTTCCCACCCAT GTGCACTGTGTTTGGAGTGGGTTT
iNOS GCTCGGGCTGAAGTGGTATGC GAAGTCTCGGACTCCAATCTCGGT
GAPDH GACAATTTTGGCATCGTGGA ATGCAGGGATGATGTTCTGG
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Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry was employed to determine the intracellular ROS content using the Reactive Oxygen Species Assay Kit. After the respective treatments, DCFH-DA was added to each well at a concentration of 10 µM, followed by incubation at 37°C for 20 minutes. The NPCs were digested from the culture plate and then centrifuged and resuspended. Flow cytometry was used to determine ROS levels at an excitation wavelength of 488 nm and an emission wavelength of 525 nm.

Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity Measurement

The total SOD activity of the NPCs was measured using the SOD Assay Kit with WST-8. The NPCs were collected and homogenized. After centrifugation, the supernatant was added to a 96-well plate and mixed with the buffer solution and working solution for 30 minutes. The absorbance at 450 nm was measured, and SOD activity was calculated according to the formula provided by the manufacturer.

Surgical Procedures

Eighteen eight-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: a control group, an IDD group and an acacetin group. The rats in the IDD group and the acacetin group were anesthetized using sodium pentobarbital. Two continuous segments near the tail root were selected to establish the disc degeneration model. The coccygeal intervertebral discs were punctured using a 21-gauge needle at a depth of 5 mm, after which the needle was rotated 360° and held in place for 30 seconds.22 The rats in the acacetin group received an intraperitoneal injection of acacetin at a dose of 25 mg/kg once a week, and the rats in the control and IDD groups received an injection of an equal volume of saline.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging can detect structural and water content changes in soft tissues. We used T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) to acquire coronal images of rats and evaluated their coccygeal intervertebral discs. The rats received an MRI scan on the same day as surgery and four weeks after surgery. A 3.0T MR scanning system (Siemens 3T Skyra Scanner) was used to scan the rat tails using the following settings: repetition time (TR) 4000 ms, echo time (TE) 76 ms, and slice thickness 1.5 mm.

Histopathological Analysis

After four weeks, all rats were euthanized by injecting excess sodium pentobarbital. Their tails were collected, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 hours and then decalcified for 48 hours using a rapid decalcification solution composed of formic acid, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid. The tails were cut in the middle of the vertebrae to obtain intact intervertebral discs. The tissues were then dehydrated, embedded in paraffin and cut into 3-µm slices. The slices were stained using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), alcian blue (AB) and safranin O/fast green, after which they were evaluated using a histological score.23

Statistical Analysis

All the experiments were carried out with at least three independent repeats. All data are represented as the mean ± SD (standard deviation). Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8 (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). The significance between multiple groups was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a post hoc Tukey HSD test for multiple comparisons. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Effects of Acacetin on the Cell Viability of NPCs

Figure 1A shows the molecular structure of acacetin. To determine the appropriate concentration for the subsequent experiments, we used the CCK-8 assay to determine the effects of acacetin on cell viability. As shown in Figure 1B and C, NPCs were treated with different concentrations of acacetin for 24 or 48 hours. A concentration higher than 1 µM showed obvious cell toxicity, whereas no significant difference in cell viability was found among the groups treated with concentrations lower than 1 µM. Thus, we chose concentrations of 0.3 µM and 1 µM for use in the subsequent experiments.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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The chemical structure of acacetin and the effect of acacetin on the viability of the NPCs. (A) The molecular structure of acacetin. (B, C) The NPCs were treated with different concentrations of acacetin for 24 (B) or 48 (C) hours, after which the cell viability was measured using a CCK-8 assay. The data are represented as the mean ± SD. n=3. ns: not significant. **p<0.01, ****p<0.0001 versus control.

Acacetin Suppressed the THBP-Induced Generation of ROS

To ascertain the effect of acacetin on ROS generation in NPCs, we measured intracellular ROS levels after treatment with TBHP (50 µM) in the presence or absence of acacetin (0.3 µM, 1 µM) using DCFH-DA with flow cytometry. As shown in Figure 2A and B, after 24 hours of intervention, TBHP dramatically increased the intracellular ROS level, while acacetin inhibited TBHP-induced ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Acacetin suppressed TBHP-induced ROS generation and upregulated the expression and activity of antioxidant proteins. The NPCs were treated with TBHP (50 µM) alone or in combination with acacetin (0.3 µM, 1 µM) for 24 hours. (A, B) Intracellular ROS levels were determined using DCFH-DA with flow cytometry. (C, D) Relative mRNA expression levels of HO-1 and NQO1 were determined by qPCR. (E) Protein expression levels of HO-1 and NQO1 were determined by Western blotting. (F) SOD activities of the NPCs were determined using a SOD assay kit with WST-8. The data are represented as the mean ± SD. n=3. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.

Acacetin Upregulated the Expression of Antioxidant Proteins

ROS-scavenging is carried out by antioxidant proteins. At least 710 kinds of antioxidant proteins that have been discovered to date.24 Wu et al found that acacetin is an activator of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway,25 and we thus evaluated the expression of downstream proteins of this pathway, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) and SOD. NPCs were treated with THBP (50 µM) in the presence or absence of acacetin (0.3 µM, 1 µM) for 24 hours. As shown in Figure 2C–E, acacetin increased the expression of HO-1 and NQO1 at the mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. We then measured the total SOD activity of the NPCs. Figure 2F shows that after 24 hours of treatment, acacetin also upregulated SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner.

Acacetin Ameliorated Inflammation and ECM Degradation Caused by TBHP

Proinflammatory mediators facilitate IDD. NO and PGE2 are important inflammatory mediators, and their synthesis depends on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), respectively.26 NPCs were also treated with TBHP either alone or in combination with acacetin for 24 hours. As shown in Figure 3A–C, TBHP treatment promoted the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at the mRNA and protein levels, while acacetin downregulated their expression levels in a dose-dependent manner.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Acacetin alleviated TBHP-induced inflammation and ECM degradation. The NPCs were treated with TBHP (50 µM) alone or combination with acacetin (0.3 µM, 1 µM) for 24 hours. (A, B) Relative mRNA expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 were determined by qPCR. (C) Protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 were evaluated using Western blotting. (D, E, F, G, H) Relative mRNA expression levels of aggrecan, collagen II, MMP13, MMP9 and MMP3 were evaluated using qPCR. (I) Protein expression levels of aggrecan, collagen II, MMP13, MMP9 and MMP3 were determined using Western blotting. Data are represented as the mean ± SD. n=3. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001.

ECM degradation of NPCs is the main manifestation of IDD. Aggrecan and collagen II are the main ECM components. Figure 3D–I show that the mRNA and protein expression of aggrecan and collagen II was suppressed by TBHP and that acacetin relieved this suppression in a dose-dependent manner. ECM degradation is mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). We evaluated the expression levels of MMP13, MMP9 and MMP3 and found that they were upregulated by TBHP and inhibited by acacetin.

Acacetin Activated the Nrf2 Pathway and Inhibited the TBHP-Induced Activation of the MAPK Pathway

The Nrf2 pathway is closely related to ROS scavenging in cells. Acacetin has been proven to protect cardiomyocytes and lung tissue from oxidative stress through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway.25,27 Therefore, we studied whether acacetin activated the Nrf2 pathway in NPCs. NPCs were preincubated with acacetin (0.3 µM, 1 µM) for two hours and then treated with TBHP (50 µM) for another 24 hours. Nuclear protein was extracted and then evaluated using Western blotting. Figure 4A shows that the intranuclear Nrf2 protein level increased in the preincubation groups, indicating that acacetin could also activate the Nrf2 pathway in NPCs.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Acacetin activated the Nrf2 pathway and inhibited TBHP-induced activation of the MAPK pathway. (A) The NPCs were pretreated with acacetin (0.3 µM, 1 µM) for two hours and then treated with TBHP (50 µM) for another 24 hours. The intranuclear protein content of Nrf2 was evaluated using Western blotting. (B) The NPCs were pretreated with acacetin (0.3 µM, 1 µM) for two hours and then treated with TBHP (50 µM) for another 24 hours. Protein expression levels of p38, p-p38, ERK, p-ERK, JNK, and p-JNK were evaluated using Western blotting. The experiment was repeated three times.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the MAPK pathway is closely involved in the degeneration process.28 Thus, in this research, we evaluated the activation status of the p38, JNK and ERK pathways. NPCs were also preincubated with acacetin for two hours and then treated with TBHP for another 24 hours. The proteins were extracted and analyzed by Western blotting. Figure 4B indicates that THBP activated the p38, JNK and ERK pathways through phosphorylation, while acacetin reversed their activation in a dose-dependent manner.

Acacetin Alleviated Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in vivo

To evaluate the effect of acacetin on IDD in vivo, we simulated IDD by puncturing the intervertebral discs of rats. After surgery, the rats were intraperitoneally injected with 25 mg/kg acacetin or an equal volume of saline once a week. The degree of degeneration was evaluated using MRI on the day of surgery and four weeks later. Figure 5A shows that needle puncture did not immediately alter the T2-weighted signal. Figure 5B shows that four weeks later, the T2-weighted signal decreased dramatically in the IDD group, whereas in the acacetin group, the signal intensity was much higher than that in the IDD group but lower than that in the control group, indicating that acacetin could partially reverse the degeneration process.

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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MRI evaluation of rat intervertebral disc. (A) T2-weighted MRI images of the rat tails immediately after the operation; (B) T2-weighted MRI images of the rat tails four weeks after the operation.

As shown in Figure 6A, H&E staining showed that the intervertebral discs of the control group were full of nucleus pulposus tissue and that the surrounding annulus fibrosus remained intact. Needle puncture obviously changed the structure of the disc. The gel-like nucleus pulposus was replaced by disorganized fibrocartilaginous tissue. The annulus fibrosus became invisible, and the distance between the vertebra was narrowed. The vertebra also exhibited bone destruction and hyperplasia. Acacetin application dramatically alleviated the observed disc degeneration. The nucleus pulposus remained partially intact, and the surrounding annulus fibrosus was slightly injured. Safranin O/fast green and AB staining demonstrated the proteoglycan and collagen contents. The color of the staining resulting from these two methods in the IDD group was much lighter than that in the control group, while the acacetin group exhibited relatively intense staining compared with that in the IDD group, indicating that acacetin partially reversed the observed disc degeneration. Finally, we used a histological score to compare the degree of degeneration in the different groups, and the results are shown in Figure 6B. The outcomes indicated that the acacetin group fared better than the IDD group.

Figure 6.

Figure 6

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Histopathological analysis of the rat intervertebral disc. (A) H&E, Safranin O/Fast Green and Alcian Blue staining of the rat intervertebral discs. (B) Histological score of the intervertebral discs. The data are represented as the mean ± SD. n=6. ****p<0.0001.

Discussion

Low back pain is a leading contributor to the medical burden worldwide, and IDD is one of the major causes of low back pain. The common pharmacological therapies for IDD are NSAIDS and muscle relaxants, which can only relieve the symptoms.29 Therefore, there is an urgent need to find an effective and safe alternative to slow the progression of IDD. In this research, we demonstrated the therapeutic effect of acacetin on IDD. In vitro, acacetin alleviated the degradation of ECM and inhibited the generation of inflammatory mediators by scavenging intracellular ROS. The effect of this drug on IDD was found to be exerted by activating the Nrf2 pathway and blocking the ROS-induced activation of the MAPK pathway. In vivo, the intraperitoneal application of an appropriate dose of acacetin dramatically ameliorated puncture-induced IDD. This is the first study revealing the protective effect of acacetin on the nucleus pulposus. A schematic diagram of the mechanism is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7.

Figure 7

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Schematic diagram of the mechanism of action. TBHP facilitates the generation of ROS, which upregulates the expression of inflammatory mediators and accelerates the degradation of ECM. Acacetin scavenges ROS through the Nrf2 pathway and inhibits the p38, JNK, ERK pathways to relieve the degenerative process.

NPCs are responsible for the functional maintenance of the intervertebral discs. ROS generated during the degenerative process not only cause oxidative damage but also disrupt many signaling pathways that regulate redox reactions.30 TBHP is a kind of organic peroxide that is more stable than ordinary hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, we treated NPCs with TBHP to simulate a high-ROS extracellular environment. Consistent with previous studies, our outcomes verified that TBHP led to inflammation and ECM degradation.31,32

Scavenging ROS can help relieve degeneration. Commonly used scavengers eliminate ROS through two mechanisms: reacting with ROS directly or enhancing the expression of intracellular antioxidant proteins.16 The former mechanism involves tempo, SOD, vitamin E and other components that can react with and eliminate ROS directly.33,34 The latter mechanism involves many cytokines and natural or synthetic compounds. These molecules can regulate ROS-related signaling pathways and upregulate the expression of endogenous antioxidants.35,36 Acacetin functions via the latter mechanism. Previous studies reported that acacetin is an activator of the Nrf2 pathway in other types of cells.25,27 Nrf2 is a key transcription factor existing in nearly all kinds of cells that regulates antioxidant processes.37 Nrf2 binds with Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) in the cytoplasm and will be degraded through ubiquitination if inactivated.38 Nrf2 activity is controlled by Keap1 in a stress-dependent manner, and once Nrf2 is activated following various stimuli, it detaches from Keap1, translocates into the nucleus, and then binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE), initiating the synthesis of antioxidant proteins including NQO1, HO-1, SOD, glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and glutathione-S-transferases (GST).39–41 We treated NPCs with acacetin and analyzed the intranuclear content of the Nrf2 protein, demonstrating that acacetin also activated the Nrf2 pathway in NPCs. The downstream protein expression levels of NQO1, HO-1 and SOD were also dramatically upregulated.

Existing studies have shown that excessive ROS disrupt the MAPK pathway.42 The MAPK pathway consists of a series of proteins regulating growth, differentiation and inflammation. p38, JNK and ERK are the major components of the MAPK pathway. These proteins are activated through phosphorylation.43 ROS activate p38, JNK and ERK and continuously upregulate the expression of downstream MMPs, ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) and inflammatory mediators such as NO and PGE2, ultimately resulting in ECM degradation and inflammation.44 Our research demonstrated that acacetin inhibited the phosphorylation of p38, JNK and ERK1/2. However, it remains unknown whether acacetin inhibits phosphorylation directly or by reducing ROS generation.

This research has several limitations. First, IDD is a complicated physiological process. TBHP application cannot completely mimic the environment of NPCs. Multiple inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1β and TNF-α, participate in the degeneration process, and these mediators have also been used to simulate the degenerative environment.45,46 We used TBHP to simulate the degeneration process because this study was focused on ROS, and TBHP is normally used for high-ROS environment simulation. However, the coadministration of TBHP and other inflammatory mediators might better mimic the degenerative environment. Second, in our in vivo study, acacetin was administered intraperitoneally. This drug may migrate to the intervertebral disc and protect NPCs directly. However, it is also possible that acacetin affects other physiological processes and protects intervertebral discs indirectly. The detailed mechanism of action in vivo may be further elucidated by labeling the drug and tracing its distribution and metabolism. In addition, the crosstalk between the Nrf2 pathway and the MAPK pathway has not been studied in this research. A number of studies have indicated that the activation of JNK1 and ERK2 promotes the activation of the Nrf2 pathway, while the activation of the p38 pathway has an inhibitory effect.47 The detailed interactions between these two signaling pathways in NPCs require further elucidation. Finally, the safety of this drug in rats or larger animals needs to be evaluated before clinical trials.

Conclusion

In summary, our research showed that acacetin alleviated TBHP-induced ROS generation, inflammation and ECM degradation by activating the Nrf2 pathway and suppressing the MAPK pathway. In addition, acacetin ameliorated the degenerative process in a rat disc puncture model in vivo. These outcomes indicated that acacetin may be a potential treatment for IDD.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the support from the central laboratory of Zhongshan Hospital.

Abbreviations

IDD, intervertebral disc degeneration; NPC, nucleus pulposus cell; ROS, reactive oxygen species; TBHP, tert-butyl peroxide; ECM, extracellular matrix; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; NO, nitric oxide; PGE2, prostaglandin E2; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-B; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; PVDF, polyvinylidene difluoride; CCK-8, Cell Counting Kit-8; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; SOD, superoxide dismutase; HO-1, heme oxygenase-1; NQO1, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; JNK, c-JUN N-terminal kinase; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Keap1, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1; ARE, antioxidant response element; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase; COX-2, cyclooxygenase 2.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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