Propionibacterium acnes induces cartilaginous endplate degeneration by promoting MIF expression via the NF-κB pathway.

Ying Zhang, Yuting Wang, Yanyan Yuan, Yeting Lin, Binbin Lin, Haiyan Zhou

Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research 2020 Jun 09

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Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a novel pathogenic factor that contributes to cartilaginous endplate (CEP) degeneration. However, the underlying mechanism of P. acnes-induced CEP degeneration remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate the underlying mechanism of P. acnes-induced CEP degeneration. We first examined MIF expression in degenerated human CEP samples by immunohistochemistry. We developed a P. acnes-induced rat model and detected MIF expression using immunohistochemistry. Additionally, we investigated the mechanism of P. acnes-induced CEP degeneration in CEP cells using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We found that compared with the normal human CEP, the expression of MIF was increased in the degenerated human CEP. In a rat model, P. acnes induced CEP degeneration and upregulated MIF expression significantly. More importantly, we revealed the underlying mechanism of P. acnes-induced CEP degeneration in the rat CEP cells. Firstly, P. acnes induced the expression of MIF in a concentration-dependent manner. Then, MIF upregulated the expression of MMP-13 and promoted the secretion of IL-6 and IL-1β. Finally, P. acnes may promote MIF expression via NF-κB pathway rather than ERK1/2 pathway. P. acnes-induced MIF expression via NF-κB pathway may be the underlying mechanism of CEP degeneration.

Citation

Ying Zhang, Yuting Wang, Yanyan Yuan, Yeting Lin, Binbin Lin, Haiyan Zhou. Propionibacterium acnes induces cartilaginous endplate degeneration by promoting MIF expression via the NF-κB pathway. Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research. 2020 Jun 09;15(1):213