The Anti-Inflammatory and Cytoprotective Efficiency of Curvularin, a Fungal Macrolactone against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response in Nucleus Pulposus Cells: An In Vitro Study

ABSTRACT

Methods@#Primary NPCs were cultured and characterized by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry using the CD24 antibody and treated with 10 μg/mL LPS for 36 hours and then treated with Cur, betamethasone, and dexamethasone (10 μg/mL) for 48 hours, after which cell cycle analysis, cell viability assay, and gene expression studies (quantitative polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and quantitative real-time-PCR) were conducted. The NPCs treated with Cur downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-1β, and IL-6); matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; MMP-2 and MMP-3), ADAMTS; and apoptotic marker (cytochrome c). @*Results@#In our study, Cur-treated cells showed enhanced expression of collagen 9A1 and insulin-like growth factor receptor 1, indicating the recovery of NPCs from inflammatory assault. @*Conclusions@#Based on observations, the anti-inflammatory properties of Cur render it an excellent drug molecule for treating disk degeneration nonsurgically, by direct injection into spinal disks when treating LBP and sciatica.