RBMS3 delays disc degeneration by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

J.-J. Wang, X.-Y. Liu, W. Du, J.-Q. Liu, B. Sun, Y.-P. Zheng

Department of Spine, Yantai Shan Hospital, Yantai, Shandong Province, China. xiaoyanliu287@126.com

---

• Orthopedics

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of RBMS3 on nucleus pulposus cells and its effect on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We measured the expression of RBMS3 in human nucleus pulposus tissues with different degrees of degeneration. Recombinant human IL-1β is used to stimulate the degeneration of human nucleus pulposus cells. We used Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitors and cell transfection to study the effect of RBMS3 on nucleus pulposus cells and its mechanism.

RESULTS: RBMS3 was less expressed in the nucleus pulposus tissue of people with higher degeneration degree. IL-1β reduced the expression of RBMS3 in nucleus pulposus cells. Overexpression of RBMS3 can promote the proliferation of nucleus pulposus cells and reduce the apoptosis and inflammation of cells. In addition, RBMS3 can reduce the expression of β-catenin and c-myc in nucleus pulposus cells, and inhibit the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: RBMS3 inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, improves the proliferation ability of nucleus pulposus cells, inhibits their apoptosis and inflammation, and thus delays the degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

Free PDF Download