LAUSR

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) represents a new group of transcripts which act a critical role in various biological and pathological processes. Growing evidence suggested that a new lncRNA, FAM83H‐AS1, played important roles in several cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms of FAM83H‐AS1‐regulating functions in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) have yet to be explained. Thus study examined the role of lncRNA FAM83H‐AS1 in progression of IDD. First, we proved that expression level of FAM83H‐AS1 was expressed in nondegenerated nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues and degenerative NP samples. Moreover, we studied the expression level of FAM83H‐AS1 relationship of the clinical disc degeneration grade. Our data suggested that FAM83H‐AS1 expression was downregulated in normal NP samples compared with in the degenerated NP samples. FAM83H‐AS1 expression was positively correlated with degree of disc degeneration grade. The expression of FAM83H‐AS1 was positively correlated with scores of Pfirrmann grade. FAM83H‐AS1 expression was increased by IL‐1β and TNF‐αtreatment in NP cells. Ectopic expression of FAM83H‐AS1 induced cell growth and modulated extracellular matrix (ECM) expression in the NP cell. Elevated expression of FAM83H‐AS1 promoted Notch1 and Hes1 expression in NP cells. Furthermore, FAM83H‐AS1 induced NP cell growth and modulated ECM expression through targeting Notch 1. To conclude, dysregulated expression of FAM83H‐AS1 played a crucial role in progression of IDD.