By: Jingyi Sun, Bipeng Lei, Weijiang Li
Keywords: Collagen II; Degenerative disc disease; Inflammation; IL-10; MAPK; Nucleus pulposus
DOI : 10.36721/PJPS.2026.39.8.212.1
Abstract: Background: The pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degenerative disease (IDDD) remains unclear. While the anti-inflammatory role of IL-10 and the therapeutic potential of curcumin are well recognized, their specific interplay in IDDD remains poorly understood. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether curcumin alleviates IDDD by upregulating IL-10 to suppress MAPK pathway overactivation, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and pro-anabolic effects on nucleus pulposus cells. Methods: Nucleus pulposus cells were isolated from patients with IDDD and divided into the following groups: control, varying concentrations of curcumin (10-80) ?mol/L, varying concentrations of IL-10 (30-60) mM and a combination group of curcumin and IL-10. Cell proliferation and gene/protein expression were assessed using MTT assay, qPCR, Western blot and ELISA. Results: IL-10 promoted myeloid cell proliferation, upregulated Bax and GAG expression, enhanced collagen II synthesis and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, while downregulating Bcl-2 expression and reducing TNF-? and IL-6 secretion (P<0.05). These effects exhibited a dose-dependent enhancement, with high-dose IL-10 showing significantly greater efficacy compared to the low-dose group (P<0.05). Conclusion: IL-10 mitigates disc degeneration by modulating MAPK signaling, reducing inflammation and apoptosis and promoting matrix synthesis in nucleus pulposus cells.
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