Wang Cheng, Wang Wenjun, Yang Wei, Yu Xiaohua, Yan Yiguo, Zhang Jian, Jiang Zhisheng
Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Department of Spine Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
Department of Spine Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2016 Mar;45(2):170-8. doi: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-9292.2016.03.10.
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of major causes for intervertebral disc degenerative diseases, and patients with IDD usually suffer from serious low back pain. The current treatments for patients with IDD only relieve the clinical symptom rather than restore biological balance of IDD, leading to inadequate and unsatisfactory results. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded RNA molecules, which regulate the gene expression at the post-transcription levels. Research evidences support the involvement of miRNAs in many biological processes, such as lipid metabolism, apoptosis, differentiation and organ development. Accumulating evidences indicate that the expressions of miRNAs change significantly in degenerative tissues. In addition, dysregulated miRNAs contribute to multiple pathological process of IDD, including proliferation and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus and extracellular matrix components, inflammatory response and cartilage endplates degeneration. In this review article, we summarize the expression profiles and roles of miRNAs in IDD, which may provide a novel strategy of biological therapy for the disease.
椎间盘退变（IDD）是椎间盘退行性疾病的主要病因之一，IDD患者通常遭受严重的腰痛。目前针对IDD患者的治疗仅能缓解临床症状，而非恢复IDD的生物平衡，导致治疗效果不足且不尽人意。微小RNA（miRNA）是内源性、非编码的单链RNA分子，其在转录后水平调节基因表达。研究证据支持miRNA参与许多生物学过程，如脂质代谢、细胞凋亡、分化和器官发育。越来越多的证据表明，miRNA在退变组织中的表达发生显著变化。此外，失调的miRNA促成了IDD的多个病理过程，包括髓核和细胞外基质成分的增殖与凋亡、炎症反应以及软骨终板退变。在这篇综述文章中，我们总结了miRNA在IDD中的表达谱和作用，这可能为该疾病提供一种新的生物治疗策略。
