The Expression Of TNF-α, ADAMTS-7 In The Nucleus Pulposus And Experimental Study Of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

ObjectiveStatistics show that the incidence of low back pain and sciatica are getting higher and higher, they affect seriously the living quality of patients and increase the burden of medical and social insurance. Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the main cause of low back pain and sciatica, there is no ideal treatment to relieve the pain symptoms.Therefore it is of great significance to explore the mechanism of pathogenesis of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and postpone the process of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.MethodsWe selected 50 patients who undergo lumbar spine surgery in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from December 2013 to May 2014.50 disc samples were collected during surgery from 50 patients. The isolated IVDs removed the annulus fibrosus carefully were divided by the Thompson grading scheme into three groups: control (n=5),grade II (n=20),gradeIV(n=25).Control group specimens were collected from patients with vertebral fracture without degenerative changes on MRI. Three groups of nucleus pulposus samples were qualitative and quantitative detected for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease withThromboSpondin type 1repeats (ADAMTS-7) by immunohistochemical staining technique and RT-PCR technique and Western blot.Thirty Wister rats weighted 200g-250g were randomly divided into two groups:Controlgroup(n=10) and Experimental group(n=20). On the building of the experimental group rats underwent lumbar disc acupuncture degeneration model. After 4 weeks, the lesions and the control nucleus pulposus tissue were qualitative and quantitative detected for TNF-aand ADAMTS-7 by immunohistochemical staining technology, RT-PCR and Western blot.The results were compared among the groups, and the statistical analysis was performed.Results1.Immune Histochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression of TNF-α and ADAMTS-7 in human degenerative nucleus pulposus tissue was higher than the normal (P< 0.01),and the expression of TNF-aand ADAMTS-7 in grade IV was higher than that in grade II (P< 0.01).2.The results of animal experiments are basically consistent with the results of human nucleus pulposus. Immunohistochemical technique, RT-PCR technique and protein blot technique also showed that the expression of TNF-alpha and ADAMTS-7 in rat the nucleus pulposus was higher than that in the normal nucleus pulposus (P< 0.01).ConclusionsTNF-a and ADAMTS-7 were both expressed in both normal and degenerated nucleus pulposus tissues, and the expression level of TNF-a and ADAMTS-7 was significantly increased in the degenerative groups. The both increased expression in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissue illustrate they have close relationship with the degeneration of intervertebral disc. Lai shows that the expression of TNF-a and ADAMTS-7 in osteoarthritis showed a positive feedback pathway accelerates the progression of the disease, so the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration may also exist such a pathway to accelerate intervertebral disc degeneration disease process. This study may provide new therapy to cure or slow down the degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc.