EZH2 upregulates the expression of MAPK1 to promote intervertebral disc degeneration via suppression of miR-129-5p.

Background: This study was designed to verify whether enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) affects intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) development through regulation of microRNA (miR)-129-5p/MAPK1.

Methods: Initially, we collected lumbar nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue samples from patients with juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (n = 14) and IVDD (n = 34). We measured the expression of related genes in clinical IVDD tissues and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NP cell model.