Mechanism of Long Noncoding RNA HOTAIR in Nucleus Pulposus Cell Autophagy and Apoptosis in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Objective: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) contributes to cervical and lumbar diseases. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in IDD. This study explored the mechanism of lncRNA HOTAIR in IDD.

Methods: Normal and degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were isolated from NP tissues obtained in intervertebral disc surgery. Cell morphology was observed by immunocytochemistry staining and toluidine blue staining. NP cell markers were detected by RT-qPCR. Proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Autophagy-related proteins were detected by Western blot. Autophagosome was observed by monodansylcadaverine fluorescence staining. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. si-HOTAIR and/or miR-148a inhibitor was introduced into degenerative NP cells. Binding relationships among HOTAIR, miR-148a, and PTEN were predicted and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down. Finally, IDD rat models were established. Rat caudal intervertebral discs were assessed by HE staining. Expressions of HOTAIR, miR-148a, and PTEN were determined by RT-qPCR.

Results: HOTAIR was highly expressed in degenerative NP cells ( < 0.05). si-HOTAIR inhibited degenerative NP cell apoptosis and autophagy ( < 0.05). HOTAIR upregulated PTEN as a sponge of miR-148a. miR-148a was poorly expressed in degenerative NP cells. miR-148a deficiency partially reversed the inhibition of si-HOTAIR on degenerative NP cell autophagy and apoptosis (all < 0.05). assay confirmed that si-HOTAIR impeded autophagy and apoptosis in intervertebral disc tissues, thus improving pathological injury in IDD rats (all < 0.05).

Conclusion: LncRNA HOTAIR promoted NP cell autophagy and apoptosis via promoting PTEN expression as a ceRNA of miR-148a in IDD.