哈萨克族成人腰稚间盘高度的放射学测量及其临床意义

目的：为人工椎间盘的设计提供形态学依据。方法：对56例哈萨克族成人腰椎（L）间盘高度进行放射学测量。结果：56例哈萨克族L1-2椎间盘高度男女性之间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,L3-5椎间盘高度男、女性之间差异有统计学意L（P〈0．005-0．001）;哈萨克族与汉族腰椎间盘高度之间差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．005）。结论：哈萨克族腰椎间盘高度均大于汉族,临床上可通过对腰椎间盘间高度的测量,为人工椎间盘假体设计提供参数．     

Programmed cell death in intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is largely a process of destruction and failure of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and symptomatic IVD degeneration is thought to be one of the leading causes of morbidity or life quality deterioration in the elderly. To date, however, the mechanism of IVD degeneration is still not fully understood. Cellular loss from cell death in the process of IVD degeneration has long been confirmed and considered to contribute to ECM degradation, but the causes and the manners of IVD cell death remain unclear. Programmed cell death (PCD) is executed by an active cellular process and is extensively involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including embryonic development and human degenerative diseases. Thus, the relationship between PCD and IVD degeneration has become a new research focus of interest in recent years. By reviewing the available literature concentrated on PCD in IVD and discussing the methodology of detecting PCD in IVD cells, its inducing factors, the relationship of cell death to ECM degradation, and the potential therapy for IVD degeneration by modulation of PCD, we conclude that IVD cells undergo PCD via different signal transduction pathways in response to different stimuli, that PCD may play a role in the process of IVD degeneration, and that modulation of PCD might be a potential therapeutic strategy for IVD degeneration.     

Brace yourself: How abdominal bracing affects intersegmental lumbar spine kinematics in response to sudden loading

Abdominal bracing is a voluntary method of increasing spine stiffness to restrict spine displacement. Previous investigations of abdominal bracing have measured effects on whole lumbar motion; however, how this effect is distributed across the lumbar spine is unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to test the influence of abdominal bracing on spine intersegmental (T9/T10 to L5/S1) flexion, measured via skin surface markers, in response to sudden loading perturbations applied through the hands in 16 young healthy participants. Abdominal and back muscle activation responses were also measured. The results demonstrated that abdominal bracing significantly reduced sagittal plane motion at intersegmental levels T12/L1 to L4/L5, by 45% (0.74 degrees) at L4/L5 to 94% (0.71 degrees) at L1/L2 compared to control. L5/S1 experienced a 50% (0.36 degrees) reduction, but this was not statistically significant. Additionally, abdominal bracing resulted in greater baseline activation of all abdominal and back muscles, but did not affect onset times or response magnitudes of any of the back muscles acting counter to the perturbation. Therefore, the elevated baseline activation of trunk musculature during an abdominal brace serves to restrict flexion motion at the majority of the intersegmental lumbar spine (T12/L1 to L4/5) in response to sudden trunk flexion perturbations.     

An upper bound computational model for investigation of fusion effects on adjacent segment biomechanics of the lumbar spine

Abstract

Prediction of the biomechanical effects of fusion surgery on adjacent segments is a challenge in computational biomechanics of the spine. In this study, a two-segment L3-L4-L5 computational model was developed to simulate the effects of spinal fusion on adjacent segment biomechanical responses under a follower load condition. The interaction between the degenerative segment (L4-5) and the adjacent segment (L3-4) was simulated using an equivalent follower spring. The spring stiffness was calibrated using a rigid fusion of a completely degenerated disc model at the L4-5 level, resulting in an upper bound response at the adjacent (L3-4) segment. The obtained upper bound equivalent follower spring was used to simulate the upper bound biomechanical responses of fusion of the disc with different degeneration grades. It was predicted that as the disc degeneration grade at the degenerative segment decreased, the effect on the adjacent segment responses decreased accordingly after fusion. The data indicated that the upper bound computational model can be a useful computational tool for evaluation of the interaction between segments and for investigation of the biomechanical mechanisms of adjacent segment degeneration after fusion.     

Regulating the fate of stem cells for regenerating the intervertebral disc degeneration

Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability and is one of the reasons for the substantial socioeconomic burden. The etiology of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is complicated, and its mechanism is still not completely understood. Factors such as aging, systemic inflammation, biochemical mediators, toxic environmental factors, physical injuries, and genetic factors are involved in the progression of its pathophysiology. Currently, no therapy for restoring degenerated IVD is available except pain management, reduced physical activities, and surgical intervention. Therefore, it is imperative to establish regenerative medicine-based approaches to heal and repair the injured disc, repopulate the cell types to retain water content, synthesize extracellular matrix, and strengthen the disc to restore normal spine flexion. Cellular therapy has gained attention for IVD management as an alternative therapeutic option. In this review, we present an overview of the anatomical and molecular structure and the surrounding pathophysiology of the IVD. Modern therapeutic approaches, including proteins and growth factors, cellular and gene therapy, and cell fate regulators are reviewed. Similarly, small molecules that modulate the fate of stem cells for their differentiation into chondrocytes and notochordal cell types are highlighted.     

椎间盘脱出大鼠模型的脊髓血流量变化及电针效应

目的 观察大鼠椎间盘脱出模型的脊髓血流量及其电针效应,为兽医临床犬椎间盘病病理和针灸作用机理研究积累资料.方法 通过外科手术将硅胶片填充于大鼠第13胸椎( T13)脊髓腹侧位制作胸腰段椎间盘脱出模型,通过激光散斑血流系统实时监测造模后第一腰椎(L1)脊髓背侧血流量及电针刺激双侧足三里穴和趾间穴对其的影响.结果 以硅胶片填充于大鼠T13的脊髓腹侧位可成功制作出类似犬胸腰段椎间盘脱出的后肢瘫痪模型,且重复性好;模型组大鼠在压迫后,L1段的脊髓背侧血流量呈极显著下降(P＜0.01),电针双侧足三里穴和趾间穴可显著升高血流量(P＜0.05),电针结束后约10 min其血流量逐渐恢复至电针前水平;电针组大鼠电针治疗14 d后,脊髓背侧血流量极显著高于对照组,且运动功能评分显示电针组大鼠的后肢运动功能显著改善.结论 通过外科手术将硅胶片填充于大鼠T13脊髓腹侧位可成功制作胸腰段椎间盘脱出模型;压迫后L1段脊髓血流量显著下降;电针治疗后脊髓血流量极显著升高,且瘫痪大鼠运动机能明显好转,这可能与电针改善脊髓血流量继而减轻脊髓损伤并促进损伤恢复或促进代偿机制有关.     

正常山羊腰椎间盘营养途径的DCE-MRI观察

目的 研究正常山羊腰椎间盘软骨终板营养途径.方法 选取健康24月龄山羊8只,每只山羊观察4个腰椎间盘,共32个腰椎间盘.麻醉后,行磁共振动态增强扫描,观察感兴趣区的信号变化特点.分别测量增强前及增强后0 min、5 min、10 min、30 rain、1 h、1.5 h、2 h,2.5 h、3 h、3.5 h感兴趣区信号强度值,分析时间-信号强度曲线及峰值出现时间.结果 椎体磁共振信号强度在0 min时达到高峰后迅速下降;软骨终板区在30 min时缓慢达到第一高峰后轻度下降,于2 h上升达到第二高峰;髓核在5 min内为负值,之后缓慢上升于2 h达到高峰,随后逐渐下降.结论 正常山羊腰椎椎间盘主要通过软骨终板途径进行营养代谢.     

持久脊柱负荷与椎间盘组织中MMP-2 表达关系的研究

目的:建立一压力可控型椎间盘退变模型,并探讨持久的脊柱负荷对椎间盘MMP-2表达的影响.方法:选用54只成年Wistar大鼠随机分为三组,分别模拟人类在站立(A组1.12N)、坐位直立(B组1.68N)、坐位前屈(C组3.08N)三种状态下椎间盘内的负荷情况,给予大鼠尾椎Co9/10椎间盘恒定压力加压,以相邻Co8/9椎间盘不加压作为对照(D组).三组分别在3、7、14天后取受压及对照椎间盘标本,进行HE染色组织学观察及免疫组织化学分析,观察椎间盘退变情况及MMP-2在椎间盘组织中的含量变化.结果:随时间与压力的增加,椎间盘组织学评分与MMP-2表达增高(P＜0.05),MMP-2表达与椎间盘退变程度成正相关(r=.870,P＜0.05).结论:持久的脊柱负荷可引起椎间盘退变及MMP-2表达增加,MMP-2可能在椎间盘退变的过程中发挥重要作用.     

miRNA-27a靶向SPRY2对退变椎间盘血管长入生成作用的影响

摘要 目的：探讨miRNA-27a靶向调控 Sprouty 同源物2（Sprouty Homolog 2, SPRY2）对人髓核细胞系（nucleus pulposus cells, NPCs）诱导人微血管内皮细胞（Human microvascular vascular endothelial cells, HMEC-1）血管生成作用的影响。方法：收集脊柱侧弯和椎间盘退变（Intervertebral disc degeneration, IDD）患者的椎间盘组织分别作为对照组和IDD组,通过miRNA芯片筛选差异表达的miRNA。RT-qPCR和荧光原位杂交实验验证组织中miR-27a的表达水平。慢病毒转染细胞,细胞分为Control组（未转染）;NC组（转染慢病毒空载）;sh-miR-27a组（转染 miR-27a抑制慢病毒）;miR-27a组（转染 miR-27a过表达慢病毒）;SPRY2组（转染 SPRY2 过表达慢病毒）及miR-27a +SPRY2组（转染miR-27a和SPRY2 过表达慢病毒）。RT-qPCR检测髓核细胞中miR-27a和SPRY2的表达。双荧光素酶报告基因实验验证miR-27a和SPRY2的靶向关系。将经过不同处理的髓核细胞条件培养基与完全培养基混合培养HMEC-1细胞,Transwell和管腔形成实验检测HMEC-1细胞的侵袭和血管生成能力。免疫荧光和ELISA检测髓核细胞和混合培养基中转化生长因子-β1(Transforming growth factor-β1, TGF-β1)含量。结果：与对照组椎间盘组织相比,IDD组miR-27a表达明显增加。与NC组相比,SPRY2在sh-miR-27a组中表达升高（P<0.05）,miR-27a组中表达降低（P<0.05）。与NC组相比,miR-27a组HMEC-1细胞侵袭和血管生成能力增强（P<0.05）,TGF-β1表达上升（P<0.05）;SPRY2组HMEC-1细胞侵袭数减少（P<0.05）,管腔样结构未形成。与miR-27a组相比,miR-27a+SPRY2组HMEC-1细胞侵袭和血管生成能力下降（P<0.05）,TGF-β1表达下降（P<0.05）。结论：miRNA-27a通过靶向抑制SPRY2的表达促进髓核细胞诱导HMEC-1细胞成血管能力。     

miR-424-5p regulates apoptosis and cell proliferation via targeting Bcl2 in nucleus pulposus cells

ABSTRACT

miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The role and the underlying mechanism of miR-424-5p in human nucleus pulposus (NP) are still unknown. We aimed to explore the role of miR-424-5p in IDD.

Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-424-5p and Bcl2 in IDD tissues and idiopathic scoliosis tissues. Human NP cells were used in our study. MTT and Hoechst apoptosis assays were used to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of NP cells, respectively. Western blotting assays were used to detect the expression levels of Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, caspase-3 and caspase-9 in degenerative NP cells. A luciferase reporter assay was applied to confirm the relationship between miR-424-5p and Bcl2.

Our results showed that the expression of miR-424-5p was increased and Bcl2 was decreased in degenerative NP cells. miR-425-5p expression was negatively correlated with Bcl2 expression in IDD tissues. Suppression of miR-424-5p using an inhibitor increased Bcl2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, and it promoted cell viability and inhibited apoptosis. Furthermore, the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were downregulated in miR-424-5p-silenced NP cells. Interestingly, we found that silencing miR-424-5p increased p62 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Finally, a luciferase reporter assay verified the binding of the miR-424-5p and the 3’UTR of Bcl2.

These results suggested that silencing miR-424-5p suppressed NP cell apoptosis by upregulating Bcl2. Therefore, miR-424-5p might be a novel target for IDD therapies.