Micro RNA-483 Elevates Nucleus Pulposus Cell Proliferation and Matrix Degradation in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

This study was to evaluate the function of miR-483 in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration in order to find a potential novel therapeutic target for intervertebral disc degeneration. MiR-483 expression was determined in nucleus pulposus tissue, cells from patients with intervertebral disc degeneration and controls using real-time PCR. Western blotting was performed to determine anticollagen II, matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metallopeptidase-9, cyclin A, cyclin D1 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression. Nucleus pulposus cell growth was detected in a MTT assay. Cell cycle was measured following flow cytometric detection. The expression level of miR-483 was downregulated significantly in intervertebral disc degeneration nucleus pulposus samples. Besides, miR-483 expression was negatively associated with the Pfirrmann grade. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-483 could promote nucleus pulposus cell growth, enhance the anticollagen II expression as well as inhibit the matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9 expression. In addition, miR-483 caused an increase in the proportion of S-phase of nucleus pulposus cells. Present study revealed a novel miRNA in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration, which could serve as a potential therapeutic approach for intervertebral disc degeneration.