Proliferation and migration of nucleus pulposus cells regulated by interleukin-6 through p38 protein

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of interleukin(IL)-6 on proliferation and migration of rat nucleus pulposus cells. Methods Rat nucleus pulposus cells obtained and cultured in vitro were randomized into five groups: control group, IL-6 group, stress group, IL-6+stress group and IL-6+SB203580+stess group. After special treatment, proliferation was evaluated by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method, and migration by scratch-wound healing assay. Results Under no stress, the absorbance value in IL-6 group(1.08±0.02) was higher than that in control group (0.67±0.01,P<0.05).Under the stress, the absorbance value in IL-6 groups(1.51±0.06) was also significantly higher than that in the control group(0.88±0.04,P< 0.05). The migrating distance in scratch-wound healing assay in IL-6 groups[(52.81±3.72)pixels]was larger than that in the control group[(14.32±3.84)pixels, P< 0.05].We used SB203580 to block p38 protein under the stress situation and found that the absorbance value(0.81±0.04)and migrating distance[(33.82± 3.72)pixels] were decreased as compared with the IL-6 groups[(1.51±0.06)and(52.81±3.72) pixels, P< 0.05]. Conclusion IL-6 could promote proliferation and migration of nucleus pulposus cells through p38 protein pathway. Key words: Interleukin-6; Nucleus pulposus cell; Proliferation; Migration