BACKGROUND It is known that Fas ligand (FasL) is involved in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). A recent study reported that lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 up-regulated the expression of FasL to promote breast cancer. Therefore, we investigated the roles that lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 might play in IDD. METHODS A total of 66 IDD patients (IDD group) and 58 healthy volunteers (Control group) were recruited in this study. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot were used to investigate gene expression levels. Cell transfections were carried out to analyze gene interactions. The diagnostic value of lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 for IDD was assessed by ROC curve analysis. RESULTS The expression levels of plasma lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 were lower in IDD patients compared to that in the control group. Down-regulation of lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 effectively distinguished IDD patients from the control group. The expression levels of plasma lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 were significantly increased after the treatments. Over-expression of lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 inhibited the expression of FasL, while the silencing of lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 promoted the expression of FasL in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 is down-regulated in IDD and participates in the regulation of FasL expression in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells.

中文翻译：

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LncRNA MAGI2-AS3在椎间盘退变中下调，并参与髓核细胞FasL表达的调节。

背景技术已知Fas配体（FasL）参与椎间盘退变（IDD）的发展。最近的一项研究报道，lncRNA MAGI2-AS3上调FasL的表达以促进乳腺癌。因此，我们研究了lncRNA MAGI2-AS3在IDD中可能发挥的作用。方法总共招募了66名IDD患者（IDD组）和58名健康志愿者（对照组）。实时定量PCR（qRT-PCR）和蛋白质印迹用于研究基因表达水平。进行细胞转染以分析基因相互作用。通过ROC曲线分析评估lncRNA MAGI2-AS3对IDD的诊断价值。结果IDD患者血浆lncRNA MAGI2-AS3的表达水平低于对照组。lncRNA MAGI2-AS3的下调可有效区分IDD患者与对照组。处理后血浆lncRNA MAGI2-AS3的表达水平显着升高。lncRNA MAGI2-AS3的过表达抑制FasL的表达，而lncRNA MAGI2-AS3的沉默则促进髓核（NP）细胞中FasL的表达。结论因此，lncRNA MAGI2-AS3在IDD中被下调，并参与髓核（NP）细胞FasL表达的调节。