MMP12-dependent myofibroblast formation contributes to the nucleus pulposus fibrosis and intervertebral disc degeneration

Human NP cells (NPC) are pre-conditioned in alginate for 7 days prior to monolayers expansion, and further treated by TGF-b1 for inducing fibroblastic differentiation. MMP12 is highly expressive in myofibroblastic NP cells, which depeltin by siRNA transfection results in a shift of fibroblastic/Cycling NP phenotypes towards epithelial/chondrogenic cells-like. RNA-seq profile of NPC and its induced MMP12 knockdown with treatment of TGF-b1 or not.