Overactivation of NF-kB pathway can induce apoptosis by down-regulating glycolysis in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells

Intervertebral disc herniation, a prevalent condition in spinal surgery that frequently results in low back pain and lower limb dysfunction, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Several factors, including spine biomechanics, biology, nutrition, injury, and abnormal inflammatory responses, have been associated with the development of intervertebral disc herniation. Among these factors, abnormal inflammatory responses have received considerable attention as a crucial mediator of both clinical symptoms and disease progression during the intervertebral disc herniation process. However, the underlying mechanisms of inflammation-induced intervertebral disc herniation remain inadequately explored. The NF-κB (Nuclear Factor-κB) pathway plays a central role in regulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Research on intervertebral disc herniation has suggested that NF-κB can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby exacerbating intervertebral disc degeneration. Targeting the NF-κB pathway has shown promise in alleviating disc degeneration and associated pain. Previous research indicated that the upregulation of the NF-κB pathway, achieved through the inhibition of A20 (zinc finger protein A20), accelerated intervertebral disc herniation. In the present study, we observed that increased activation of NF-κB pathway activation suppressed the glycolysis process in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), leading to NPC apoptosis. Conversely, inhibition of the NF-κB pathway overactivated promoted the restoration of glycolysis and reversed NPC apoptosis, especially when treated with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS).