How the USP5-MATN3 pathway helps protect spine disc cells from aging and degeneration

MATN3 protein expression decreased significantly during intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD).

• A decrease in MATN3 is closely associated with cellular senescence in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs).
• Overexpression of MATN3 can effectively inhibit NPC senescence in laboratory conditions.
• In a rat model, MATN3 overexpression delays the pathological progression of IVDD.
• No significant difference in MATN3 levels was found at the mRNA level, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation.
• USP5 was identified as a direct interacting protein of MATN3, stabilizing it through a process that removes ubiquitin tags.
• Functional experiments indicated that USP5 alleviates NPC senescence by increasing MATN3 levels.

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