The Function Of TNF-α In The Pressure Inducing The Expression Of ADAMTS-4 In The Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Objective: To explore the effect of pressure and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) on expression of ADAMTS-4 in rat nucleus pulposus cells(NPCs), and preliminaryly investigate the mechanism of ADAMTS-4 high expression.Methods: NPCs were grouped according to interventions with pressure, TNF-αand its receptors-targeted SiRNA. Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of ADAMTS-4.Results: The expression of ADAMTS-4 was not significantly increased by the intervention of pressure, and it was significantly increased by the interventions of pressure and TNF-α. But the expression of ADAMTS-4 was also not obviously increased by the interventions of pressure and TNF-αif TNF-αreceptor gene was silenced by siRNA.Conclusion: The pressure is the initial factor of disc degeneration, and TNF-αis a messenger molecule in this process. ADAMTS-4 may be a metalloenzyme that finally aggravates the disc degeneration. The pressure only leds to high expression of ADAMTS-4 and the disc degeneration if the TNF-αis present.