Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of icariin (ICA) in combination with Dexamethasone (Dex) on cell proliferation and secretion expression of Aggrecan, type Ⅱcollagen (Col2a), IL-6, IL-8 and MatrixMetalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in human nucleus pulposus cells (hNPs). Methods The experiment was divided into different groups based on different treatments: control group (only culture medium), ICA group(20 μM/L ICA), Dex group(0.2 μM/L Dex), ICA + Dex group (20 μM/L ICA + 0.2 μM/L Dex), IL-1β group (10 ng/mL IL-1β), ICA + IL-1β group (20 μM/L ICA + 10 ng/mL IL-1β), Dex + IL-1β group (0.2 μM/L Dex + 10 ng/mL IL-1β), ICA+Dex + IL-1β group (20 μM/L ICA + 0.2 μM/L Dex + 10 ng/mL IL-1β). Each group was treated for 48 h. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay. The expression levels of Aggrecan, Col2a, IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-13 were examined by Western blotting, RT-PCR and ELISA methods. Results ICA(20 μM/L ) or Dex (≤ 0.2 μM/L) at low concentrations promoted hNPs proliferation, but there was no significant difference when compared with the control group (P > 0.05). However, 20 μM/L ICA in combination with 0.2 μM/L Dex significantly increased the cell survival rate of hNPs when compared with the control group, the ICA and teh Dex single treatment group (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expression of Aggrecan and Col2a in hNPs were also markedly increased by ICA in combination with Dex when compared with the control group, the ICA and the Dex single treatment group (P < 0.05). In addition, the secretion expression of IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-13 in IL-1β-induced hNPs were significantly inhibited by ICA in combination with Dex when compared with IL-1β, ICA + IL-1β or Dex + IL-1β groups(P < 0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that icariin in combination with Dexamethasone significantly promotes cell proliferation and the expression of Aggrecan and Col2a in hNPs, and inhibites the secretion expression of IL-6, IL-8 and MMP-13 in IL-1β-induced hNPs, providing a preliminary experimental basis for drug treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.