European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Chronic inflammation is thought to cause ligamentum flavum (LF) degeneration and hypertrophy in lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS). Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) is highly expressed in hypertrophied LF. Because Angptl2 regulates interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in various tissues, we investigated whether IL-6 is expressed in hypertrophied LF and, if so, does Angptl2 induce IL-6 expression in LF fibroblasts. ⋯ Angptl2 promotes inflammation in LF tissue by activating IL-6 expression, leading to LF degeneration and hypertrophy.
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The ratio of notochordal (NC) cells to mature nucleus pulposus (MNP) cells in the nucleus pulposus varies with species, age and health. Studies suggest that loss of NC cells is a key component of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, few studies have examined the phenotypes of these two cell populations. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate NC and MNP cells from the same intervertebral disc and study phenotypic differences in extracellular matrix production and cell morphology in 3D culture over 7 days. ⋯ NC and MNP cells can be isolated from the same bovine disc and maintain their distinct phenotypes in 3D culture.
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Observational Study
Health care costs of incidental durotomies and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks after elective spinal surgery.
To explore the additional health care costs of incidental durotomies and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks after elective surgery for degenerative spinal disorders. ⋯ Incidental durotomy or postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak after elective surgery for degenerative spinal disorders causes significantly higher health care costs.
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To investigate whether exogenous tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) will initiate a degenerative process in intervertebral disc in vivo. ⋯ Intradiscal injection of exogenous TNF-α caused early stage disc degeneration in a porcine model. It may thus support the hypothesis of exogenic TNF-α being an important early pathogenetic factor in disc degeneration.
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Nerve growth factor (NGF) expression and activity is important in chronic lower back pain but may also act as a pro-catabolic factor in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) expression in IVD was upregulated by NGF stimulation in our previous study. The current study was undertaken to identify potential mechanisms of the latter effect including potential interactions between Lcn2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). ⋯ NGF upregulates Lcn2 expression and increases MMP9 activity in AF cells; processes which are likely to potentiate degeneration of AF tissue in vivo. Anti-NGF treatment may have benefit for management of pain relief and slowing down progression of AF tissue degeneration.