Role of Exosomes from Nucleus Pulposus Cells in Attenuating Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Inhibiting Nucleus Pulposus Cell Apoptosis via the miR-8485/GSK-3β/Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Axis.

CMT can promote the secretion of NPCs-exo, which are internalized by the NPCs. Through the delivery of miR-8485, NPCs-exo target and regulate GSK-3β, thereby enhancing Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity. This mechanism increases NPCs viability and extracellular matrix synthesis while suppressing apoptosis, ultimately delaying IVDD progression. Immunofluorescence staining in animal experiments confirmed that traction force effectively improves extracellular matrix expression in the IVD and mitigates stress-induced morphological alterations of the IVD.