BRD4 Inhibition Suppresses Senescence and Apoptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells by Inducing Autophagy during Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the most common chronic skeletal muscle degeneration disease. Although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, nucleus pulposus (NP) autophagy, senescence, and apoptosis are known to play a critical role in this process. Previous studies suggest that bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) promotes senescent and apoptotic effects in several age-related degenerative diseases. It is not known, however, if BRD4 inhibition is protective in IDD. In this study, we explored whether BRD4 influenced IDD. In human clinical specimens, the BRD4 level was markedly increased with the increasing Pfirrmann grade. At the cellular level, BRD4 inhibition prevented IL-1 β -induced senescence and apoptosis of NP cells and activated autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) partially reversed the antisenescence and antiapoptotic effects of BRD4. In vivo, BRD4 inhibition attenuated IDD. Taken together, the results of this study showed that BRD4 inhibition reduced NP cell senescence and apoptosis by induced autophagy, which ultimately alleviated IDD. Therefore, BRD4 may serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for the treatment of IDD.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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