Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration

Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a progressive and dynamic process in which the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of nucleus pulposus cells (NPC) plays a significant role. While impaired chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) has been associated with inflammation and cel...

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Main Authors: Zhangrong Cheng, Haiyang Gao, Pengzhi Shi, Anran Zhang, Xianglong Chen, Yuhang Chen, Weikang Gan, Kangcheng Zhao, Shuai Li, Cao Yang, Yukun Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:Bone Research
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00441-0
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author Zhangrong Cheng
Haiyang Gao
Pengzhi Shi
Anran Zhang
Xianglong Chen
Yuhang Chen
Weikang Gan
Kangcheng Zhao
Shuai Li
Cao Yang
Yukun Zhang
author_facet Zhangrong Cheng
Haiyang Gao
Pengzhi Shi
Anran Zhang
Xianglong Chen
Yuhang Chen
Weikang Gan
Kangcheng Zhao
Shuai Li
Cao Yang
Yukun Zhang
author_sort Zhangrong Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a progressive and dynamic process in which the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of nucleus pulposus cells (NPC) plays a significant role. While impaired chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) has been associated with inflammation and cellular senescence, its specific involvement in the self-perpetuating feedback loop of NPC senescence remains poorly understood. Through LAMP2A knockout in NPC, we identified a significant upregulation of DYRK1A, a core mediator of premature senescence in Down syndrome. Subsequent validation established DYRK1A as the critical driver of premature senescence in CMA-deficient NPC. Combinatorial transcription factor analysis revealed that under IL1B stimulation or CMA inhibition, elevated DYRK1A promoted FOXC1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, initiating transcriptional activation of cell cycle arrest. Intriguingly, CMA impairment concurrently enhanced glutamine metabolic flux in senescent NPC, thereby augmenting their survival fitness. Transcriptomic profiling demonstrated that CMA reactivation in senescent NPC facilitated fate transition from senescence to apoptosis, mediated by decreased glutamine flux via GLUL degradation. Therefore, CMA exerts protective effects against IDD by maintaining equilibrium between premature senescence and senolysis. This study elucidates CMA’s regulatory role in SASP-mediated senescence amplification circuits, providing novel therapeutic insights for IDD and other age-related pathologies.
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spelling doaj-art-4a99e79ca5994505bcb36be9b1d48b642025-08-20T02:06:19ZengNature Publishing GroupBone Research2095-62312025-06-0113111910.1038/s41413-025-00441-0Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degenerationZhangrong Cheng0Haiyang Gao1Pengzhi Shi2Anran Zhang3Xianglong Chen4Yuhang Chen5Weikang Gan6Kangcheng Zhao7Shuai Li8Cao Yang9Yukun Zhang10Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a progressive and dynamic process in which the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of nucleus pulposus cells (NPC) plays a significant role. While impaired chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) has been associated with inflammation and cellular senescence, its specific involvement in the self-perpetuating feedback loop of NPC senescence remains poorly understood. Through LAMP2A knockout in NPC, we identified a significant upregulation of DYRK1A, a core mediator of premature senescence in Down syndrome. Subsequent validation established DYRK1A as the critical driver of premature senescence in CMA-deficient NPC. Combinatorial transcription factor analysis revealed that under IL1B stimulation or CMA inhibition, elevated DYRK1A promoted FOXC1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, initiating transcriptional activation of cell cycle arrest. Intriguingly, CMA impairment concurrently enhanced glutamine metabolic flux in senescent NPC, thereby augmenting their survival fitness. Transcriptomic profiling demonstrated that CMA reactivation in senescent NPC facilitated fate transition from senescence to apoptosis, mediated by decreased glutamine flux via GLUL degradation. Therefore, CMA exerts protective effects against IDD by maintaining equilibrium between premature senescence and senolysis. This study elucidates CMA’s regulatory role in SASP-mediated senescence amplification circuits, providing novel therapeutic insights for IDD and other age-related pathologies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00441-0
spellingShingle Zhangrong Cheng
Haiyang Gao
Pengzhi Shi
Anran Zhang
Xianglong Chen
Yuhang Chen
Weikang Gan
Kangcheng Zhao
Shuai Li
Cao Yang
Yukun Zhang
Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration
Bone Research
title Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration
title_full Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration
title_fullStr Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration
title_full_unstemmed Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration
title_short Chaperone-mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration
title_sort chaperone mediated autophagy directs a dual mechanism to balance premature senescence and senolysis to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00441-0
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