Atrial natriuretic peptide protects vertebral endplate chondrocytes against HO‑induced apoptosis and oxidative stress through activation of the Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on cell apoptosis and oxidative stress in HO‑induced vertebral endplate chondrocytes (EPCs), and to assess the associated mechanisms involved. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit‑8 method and TUNEL assay, respectively. In addition, the scavenging capability was detected using various enzymatic assays, and the quantity of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assessed. The expression levels of apoptosis‑related proteins, activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1) signaling pathway induced by HO and the effect of treatment with ANP on vertebral EPCs were detected by western blotting. The results revealed that ANP protected EPCs from HO‑induced cell damage. HO‑induced intracellular MDA was decreased by ANP, and the levels of SOD and NO were increased in the presence of ANP. ANP also inhibited the HO‑induced alterations in the expression levels of cleaved‑caspase‑3, Bax and Bcl‑2. Finally, ANP blocked H2O2‑induced oxidative stress through activating the Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling pathway. These findings suggested that ANP may effectively protect EPCs through inhibition of HO‑induced oxidant injury and cell death by activating the Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling pathway.