Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice

Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major risk factor contributing to chronic low back and neck pain. While the etiological factors for disc degeneration vary, age is still one of the most important risk factors. Recent studies have shown the promising role of SIRT6 in mammalian aging and...

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Main Authors: Pranay Ramteke, Bahiyah Watson, Mallory Toci, Victoria A. Tran, Shira Johnston, Maria Tsingas, Ruteja A. Barve, Ramkrishna Mitra, Richard F. Loeser, John A. Collins, Makarand V. Risbud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-05-01
Series:Bone Research
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00422-3
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author Pranay Ramteke
Bahiyah Watson
Mallory Toci
Victoria A. Tran
Shira Johnston
Maria Tsingas
Ruteja A. Barve
Ramkrishna Mitra
Richard F. Loeser
John A. Collins
Makarand V. Risbud
author_facet Pranay Ramteke
Bahiyah Watson
Mallory Toci
Victoria A. Tran
Shira Johnston
Maria Tsingas
Ruteja A. Barve
Ramkrishna Mitra
Richard F. Loeser
John A. Collins
Makarand V. Risbud
author_sort Pranay Ramteke
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major risk factor contributing to chronic low back and neck pain. While the etiological factors for disc degeneration vary, age is still one of the most important risk factors. Recent studies have shown the promising role of SIRT6 in mammalian aging and skeletal tissue health, however its role in the intervertebral disc health remains unexplored. We investigated the contribution of SIRT6 to disc health by studying the age-dependent spinal phenotype of mice with conditional deletion of Sirt6 in the disc (Acan CreERT2 ; Sirt6 fl/fl ). Histological studies showed a degenerative phenotype in knockout mice compared to Sirt6 fl/fl control mice at 12 months, which became pronounced at 24 months. RNA-Seq analysis of NP and AF tissues, in vitro quantitative histone analysis, and RNA-seq with ATAC-seq multiomic studies revealed that SIRT6-loss resulted in changes in acetylation and methylation status of specific Histone 3 lysine residues and affected DNA accessibility and transcriptomic landscape. A decrease in autophagy and an increase in DNA damage were also noted in Sirt6-deficient cells. Further mechanistic insights revealed that loss of SIRT6 increased senescence and SASP burden in the disc characterized by increased p21, p19, γH2AX, IL-6, IL-1β, and TGF-β abundance. Taken together, our study highlights the contribution of SIRT6 in modulating DNA damage, autophagy, and cell senescence and its importance in maintaining disc health during aging, thereby underscoring it as a potential therapeutic target to treat intervertebral disc degeneration.
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spelling doaj-art-64b3daa34a2d4804983cf1b5f65b99ac2025-08-20T01:49:44ZengNature Publishing GroupBone Research2095-62312025-05-0113111410.1038/s41413-025-00422-3Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in micePranay Ramteke0Bahiyah Watson1Mallory Toci2Victoria A. Tran3Shira Johnston4Maria Tsingas5Ruteja A. Barve6Ramkrishna Mitra7Richard F. Loeser8John A. Collins9Makarand V. Risbud10Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityDepartment of Genetics, Genome Technology Access Centre at the McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University, School of MedicineDepartment of Pharmacology and Biostatistics, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson UniversityThurston Arthritis Research Center and the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityAbstract Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major risk factor contributing to chronic low back and neck pain. While the etiological factors for disc degeneration vary, age is still one of the most important risk factors. Recent studies have shown the promising role of SIRT6 in mammalian aging and skeletal tissue health, however its role in the intervertebral disc health remains unexplored. We investigated the contribution of SIRT6 to disc health by studying the age-dependent spinal phenotype of mice with conditional deletion of Sirt6 in the disc (Acan CreERT2 ; Sirt6 fl/fl ). Histological studies showed a degenerative phenotype in knockout mice compared to Sirt6 fl/fl control mice at 12 months, which became pronounced at 24 months. RNA-Seq analysis of NP and AF tissues, in vitro quantitative histone analysis, and RNA-seq with ATAC-seq multiomic studies revealed that SIRT6-loss resulted in changes in acetylation and methylation status of specific Histone 3 lysine residues and affected DNA accessibility and transcriptomic landscape. A decrease in autophagy and an increase in DNA damage were also noted in Sirt6-deficient cells. Further mechanistic insights revealed that loss of SIRT6 increased senescence and SASP burden in the disc characterized by increased p21, p19, γH2AX, IL-6, IL-1β, and TGF-β abundance. Taken together, our study highlights the contribution of SIRT6 in modulating DNA damage, autophagy, and cell senescence and its importance in maintaining disc health during aging, thereby underscoring it as a potential therapeutic target to treat intervertebral disc degeneration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00422-3
spellingShingle Pranay Ramteke
Bahiyah Watson
Mallory Toci
Victoria A. Tran
Shira Johnston
Maria Tsingas
Ruteja A. Barve
Ramkrishna Mitra
Richard F. Loeser
John A. Collins
Makarand V. Risbud
Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice
Bone Research
title Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice
title_full Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice
title_fullStr Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice
title_full_unstemmed Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice
title_short Sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice
title_sort sirt6 deficiency promotes senescence and age associated intervertebral disc degeneration in mice
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-025-00422-3
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