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. After loss- and gain-of-function assays, NP cell proliferation and senescence were examined. The targeting relationship between miR-129-5p and MAPK1 was explored by dual luciferase reporter gene and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. The enrichment of EZH2 and H3K27me3 in miR-129-5p promoter was verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Finally, an IVDD rat model was established to test the effects of transduction with lentiviral vector carrying miR-129-5p agomir and/or oe-EZH2 in vivo.

Results: miR-129-5p was underexpressed, and EZH2 and MAPK1 levels were overexpressed in lumbar nucleus pulposus from human IVDD patients and in LPS-induced NP cells. miR-129-5p overexpression or silencing of MAPK1 promoted proliferation of NP cells, while inhibiting their senescence. EZH2 inhibited miR-129-5p through H3K27me3 modification in the miR-129-5p promoter. miR-129-5p could target the downregulation of MAPK1 expression. EZH2 overexpression increased the release of inflammatory factors and cell senescence factors, which was reversed by miR-129-5p agomir in vivo.

Conclusions: Taken together, EZH2 inhibits miR-129-5p through H3K27me3 modification, which upregulates MAPK1, thereby promoting the development of IVDD.