The expression of LCN2 in lumbar disc herniation was verified by bioinformatics analysis and protein blot

Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a disease that can cause serious spinal symptoms. At present, the main treatment of IVDD is surgery. The purpose of this experiment is to screen out the main gene LCN2 that causes IVDD and verify its expression through gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Methods 30 patients with IVDD and 30 healthy people were collected and the transcriptome was sequenced. Screening key differential genes by PCA, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The model of degenerated nucleus pulposus cells was established, the cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method, the apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV/FITC staining, and the marker proteins such as MMP3, MMP13 and COL2A1 were detected by Western blot, which verified the success of the model. Finally, Western blot was used to detect the expression of LCN2 in the model. Results There were 930 up-regulated genes and 3079 down-regulated genes in DEGs. Enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG pathways showed enrichment pathways. Light microscope showed that the nucleus pulposus cells were swollen and the nuclear volume was smaller than that of the normal group. CCK-8 test showed that the IC50 of nucleus pulposus degeneration model was 20 ng/ml; Flow cytometry showed that the activity of nucleus pulposus cells in the experimental group decreased and the apoptosis rate increased. Western blot showed that the expression of MMP3, MMP13 and COL2A1 protein in the experimental group increased (P < 0.05), while the expression of COL2A1 protein decreased (P < 0.05). Western blot showed that the expression of LCN2 protein in the experimental group increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion This study further helps us to understand the correlation between LCN2 and intervertebral disc degeneration. It provides a potential effective marker for the diagnosis of intervertebral disc degeneration, and also provides a new perspective for the targeted treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.