The Studies On Expression Of Apoptotic Related DR4 And DcR1 In Degenerative Lumbar Disc Tissue

Objective: To determine the apoptosis rate and the expressions of DR4 and DcR1 in human nucleus pulposus (NP) of degenerated and normal lumbar intervertebral discs, Analysis the correlations between the expression of DR4,DcR1and the apoptosis rate of intervertebral discs.and exploring the influence of DR4 and DcR1 in the process of Intervertebral disc degenerative.Methods: The tissues of the degenerated NP were obtained from 36 Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients (21males,15 females) surgeried in the Orthopaedics two Department of Fujian Provincial Hospital from March 2009 to september 2010. As the control group, normal lumbar discs were obtained from 22 Lumber Vertebrae Fracture patients (14 males,8 females), We detected the apoptosis rate and the expression of DR4 and DcR1 with TdT-mediated dUTP biotinnick end labeling(TUNEL) and immunohistochemical staining methods.Results:The average apoptotic index (AI) and The expressions of DR4 protein in degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs was significantly higher than traumatic normal cases (52.41%vs35.47%, P < 0 . 05,53.24%vs32.53 % P < 0 . 05) . There was no difference in the expression of DcR1 protein between the two groups(24.36%vs30.54%, Pï¹¥0 . 05).The DR4 positive incidence of nucleus pulposus showed significant positive correlation with the TUNEL positive incidence of nucleus pulposus(r = 0 .865,P<0.0 1). The DcR1 positive incidence of nucleus pulposus was not related with TUNEL positive incidence of nucleus pulposus(P> 0.05). Conclusion:1,Normal and degenerative discs both exist the expression of DcR1 protein ,There was no difference in the expression of DcR1 protein between the two groups,The DcR1 positive incidence of nucleus pulposus was not related with TUNEL positive incidence of nucleus pulposus.2,The average apoptotic index (AI) in degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs was significantly higher than traumatic normal cases.3,The expressions of DR4 protein in degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs was significantly higher,under the same amount DcR1 expression, the stronger expressions of DR4 ,The more disc cell apoptosis in lumbar intervertebral discs.4,The DR4 positive incidence of nucleus pulposus showed significant positive correlation with the TUNEL positive incidence of nucleus pulposus.DR4 may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration, The apoptosis pathway induced by DR4/ tumor necrotic factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand ( TRAIL) maybe exists in LID tissues.