Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1 and its Receptor CXCR4 are Upregulated Expression in Degenerated Intervertebral Discs

Zhang, Hua; Zhang, Li; Chen, Linwei; Li, Wanli; Li, Fangcai; Chen, Qixin

doi:10.7150/ijms.7489



Theranostics

International Journal of Biological Sciences

Nanotheranostics

Journal of Cancer

Journal of Genomics

Global reach, higher impact

Full Text | PDF

Int J Med Sci 2014; 11(3):240-245. doi:10.7150/ijms.7489 This issue Cite

Short Research Communication

Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1 and its Receptor CXCR4 are Upregulated Expression in Degenerated Intervertebral Discs

Hua Zhang^1*✉, Li Zhang^*2, Linwei Chen¹, Wanli Li¹, Fangcai Li¹, Qixin Chen¹

1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, China
2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, the Red Cross Hospital, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 208 East Road, Hangzhou Ring, Hangzhou, China
* Hua Zhang and Li Zhang have contributed equally to this study.

Citation:

Zhang H, Zhang L, Chen L, Li W, Li F, Chen Q. Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1 and its Receptor CXCR4 are Upregulated Expression in Degenerated Intervertebral Discs. Int J Med Sci 2014; 11(3):240-245. doi:10.7150/ijms.7489. https://www.medsci.org/v11p0240.htm

Other styles

Abstract

Background: Although chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 induce degradation of articular cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), the association between the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway and degradation of the cartilaginous endplate and nucleus pulposus has not been thoroughly clarified. We investigated the expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in intervertebral discs (IVDs).

Methods: SDF-1 and CXCR4 levels in human IVDs and the rat L5/6 motion segment were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SDF-1 staining was quantified using a microscope and Image-Pro Plus software. Integrated optical density (IOD) served as the measurement parameter. The number of CXCR4 immunoreactive cells was expressed as a percentage of the total number of cells.

Results: SDF-1 and CXCR4 were both expressed in IVDs, and the levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 were both significantly higher in the degeneration group than in the normal group of human (or rat) discs. Both nucleus pulposus cells and cartilaginous endplate cells expressed the CXCR4 protein. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the SDF-1 IOD value and the percentage of CXCR4-positive disc cells in the nucleus pulposus and cartilaginous endplate. The SDF-1 IOD values were significantly higher in the outer annular fibrosus and bone/endplate junction region than in the nucleus pulposus and cartilaginous endplate in the rat specimens.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest upregulated expression of SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 in degenerated IVD.

Keywords: SDF-1, CXCR4, intervertebral disc, nucleus pulposus, endplate

Citation styles

APA

Zhang, H., Zhang, L., Chen, L., Li, W., Li, F., Chen, Q. (2014). Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1 and its Receptor CXCR4 are Upregulated Expression in Degenerated Intervertebral Discs. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 11(3), 240-245. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.7489.

ACS

Zhang, H.; Zhang, L.; Chen, L.; Li, W.; Li, F.; Chen, Q. Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1 and its Receptor CXCR4 are Upregulated Expression in Degenerated Intervertebral Discs. Int. J. Med. Sci. 2014, 11 (3), 240-245. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.7489.

NLM

CSE

Zhang H, Zhang L, Chen L, Li W, Li F, Chen Q. 2014. Stromal Cell-derived Factor-1 and its Receptor CXCR4 are Upregulated Expression in Degenerated Intervertebral Discs. Int J Med Sci. 11(3):240-245.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY-NC) License. See http://ivyspring.com/terms for full terms and conditions.