Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral Discs

ABSTRACT Background Intervertebral disc degeneration involves aging and senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), and JAK/STAT signaling may contribute to this process. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of the JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, on NPC senescence. Methods C...

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Main Authors: Honggang Hao, Weidong Liang, Shuwen Zhang, Xiaoyu Cai, Abulizi Yakefu, Shutao Gao, Chuanhui Xun, Tao Xu, Rui Cao, Weibin Sheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:JOR Spine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70044
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author Honggang Hao
Weidong Liang
Shuwen Zhang
Xiaoyu Cai
Abulizi Yakefu
Shutao Gao
Chuanhui Xun
Tao Xu
Rui Cao
Weibin Sheng
author_facet Honggang Hao
Weidong Liang
Shuwen Zhang
Xiaoyu Cai
Abulizi Yakefu
Shutao Gao
Chuanhui Xun
Tao Xu
Rui Cao
Weibin Sheng
author_sort Honggang Hao
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Intervertebral disc degeneration involves aging and senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), and JAK/STAT signaling may contribute to this process. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of the JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, on NPC senescence. Methods Control (third passage), Senescence (sixth passage), JAK inhibitor (ruxolitinib‐treated), siRNA‐NC (control siRNA‐treated), and siRNA‐JAK2 (JAK2‐targeting siRNA‐treated) groups of rat NPCs were established. Cell senescence ratios were determined by β‐galactosidase staining and Edu staining was conducted to assess cell proliferation. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry and Aggrecan and Col II expression detected by immunofluorescence staining. Levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, MMP‐3, and MMP‐13 were detected by ELISA, and p16, p21, p53, p‐p53, JAK2, STAT3, p‐JAK2, p‐STAT3, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5 levels were examined by western blot. Results More cell senescence was detected by β‐galactosidase staining in the Senescence group than in the Control group, while cell proliferation was lower, apoptosis ratio higher, and the percentage of NPCs in G0/G1 phase higher. Levels of senescence‐related proteins, including p16, p21, p53, and p‐p53, were higher in the Senescence group than the Control group, as were those of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, MMP‐3, MMP‐13, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5. Further, Aggrecan and Col II levels were lower in the Senescence group, while those of JAK2 and STAT3 (JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway) were higher. Ruxolitinib reversed the changes described above to varying degrees, and the results were supported by those of experiments involving targeted silencing of JAK2. Conclusions NPC senescence is characterized by low cell proliferation, a high apoptosis ratio, cell cycle arrest, and generation of senescence‐associated secretory phenotypes. NPC senescence can be delayed by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling using ruxolitinib.
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spelling doaj-art-96e33dc38eef44e482821b6344f1f03b2025-08-20T02:11:08ZengWileyJOR Spine2572-11432025-03-0181n/an/a10.1002/jsp2.70044Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral DiscsHonggang Hao0Weidong Liang1Shuwen Zhang2Xiaoyu Cai3Abulizi Yakefu4Shutao Gao5Chuanhui Xun6Tao Xu7Rui Cao8Weibin Sheng9Department of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery II, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaDepartment of Spine Surgery The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi ChinaABSTRACT Background Intervertebral disc degeneration involves aging and senescence of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), and JAK/STAT signaling may contribute to this process. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of the JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, on NPC senescence. Methods Control (third passage), Senescence (sixth passage), JAK inhibitor (ruxolitinib‐treated), siRNA‐NC (control siRNA‐treated), and siRNA‐JAK2 (JAK2‐targeting siRNA‐treated) groups of rat NPCs were established. Cell senescence ratios were determined by β‐galactosidase staining and Edu staining was conducted to assess cell proliferation. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry and Aggrecan and Col II expression detected by immunofluorescence staining. Levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, MMP‐3, and MMP‐13 were detected by ELISA, and p16, p21, p53, p‐p53, JAK2, STAT3, p‐JAK2, p‐STAT3, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5 levels were examined by western blot. Results More cell senescence was detected by β‐galactosidase staining in the Senescence group than in the Control group, while cell proliferation was lower, apoptosis ratio higher, and the percentage of NPCs in G0/G1 phase higher. Levels of senescence‐related proteins, including p16, p21, p53, and p‐p53, were higher in the Senescence group than the Control group, as were those of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, MMP‐3, MMP‐13, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5. Further, Aggrecan and Col II levels were lower in the Senescence group, while those of JAK2 and STAT3 (JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway) were higher. Ruxolitinib reversed the changes described above to varying degrees, and the results were supported by those of experiments involving targeted silencing of JAK2. Conclusions NPC senescence is characterized by low cell proliferation, a high apoptosis ratio, cell cycle arrest, and generation of senescence‐associated secretory phenotypes. NPC senescence can be delayed by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling using ruxolitinib.https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70044JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathwaynucleus pulposus cellsruxolitinibsenescence
spellingShingle Honggang Hao
Weidong Liang
Shuwen Zhang
Xiaoyu Cai
Abulizi Yakefu
Shutao Gao
Chuanhui Xun
Tao Xu
Rui Cao
Weibin Sheng
Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral Discs
JOR Spine
JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway
nucleus pulposus cells
ruxolitinib
senescence
title Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral Discs
title_full Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral Discs
title_fullStr Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral Discs
title_full_unstemmed Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral Discs
title_short Ruxolitinib Delays Nucleus Pulposus Cell Senescence in Rat Intervertebral Discs
title_sort ruxolitinib delays nucleus pulposus cell senescence in rat intervertebral discs
topic JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway
nucleus pulposus cells
ruxolitinib
senescence
url https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70044
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