Objective To determine whether the transforminggrowth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a key regulatory molecule required for an increase or a balance of extracellular matrix (ECM) and DNA synthesis in the goat passaged nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Methods The NP cells isolated from the goat intervertebral discs were cultured in vitro for a serial of passages and transfected with the replicationincompetent adenoviral vectors carrying the human TGF-β1 (hTGF-β1) or lacZ genes. Then, they were cultured in monolayer or alginate bead 3dimensional (3-D) systems for 10 days.The changes in the production and the molecular components of ECM that occurredin the NP cells transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 or the controls were evaluated by Westernblot and absorbance of glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-Alcian Blue complexes. Differences of DNA synthesis in the variant cells and culture systems were assessed by fluorometric analysis of the DNA content. ResultsA quantitation in the variant culture systems indicated that in monolayers the NP cells at Passage 3 transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 had a much higher cell viability and more DNA synthesis(P＜0.05); however, in the alginate 3-D culture system, the NP cells transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 did not have any significant difference from the controls(P＞0.05). The Western blotting analysis ofthe protein sample isolated from the variant cells for TGF-β1, type Ⅱ collagen, and Aggrecan expression indicated that in the monolayers and alginate 3-D culture systems the NP cells at Passage 3 transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 revealed much higher protein levels than the controls(P＜0.05)； whereas the type Ⅰcollagen content was much lower than the controls (P＜0.05), but a significatly increased ratio of type Ⅱ/type Ⅰ collagen was found in both of the cell culture systems(P＜0.05). The GAG quantification also showed a positive result in both the cell culture systems and the NP cells at Passage 3 transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 had a much higher GAG content than the controls(P＜0.05). Conclusion To a greaterextent, hTGF-β1 can play a key role in maintaining the phenotype of the NP cells and can still have an effect of the phenotypic modulation after a serial of the cell passages. The NP cells that are genetically manipulated to express hTGF-β1 have a promising effect on the restoration of the intervertebral disc defects. The NP cells transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 cultured in the 3-D alginate bead systems can show a nearly native phenotype.
Objective To detect the cell density, apoptotic rate, and the expressions of BNIP3 in nucleus pulposus of degenerative intervertebral disc of rabbits, so as to further understand the mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits, aging 3 months and weighing (2.3 ± 0.2) kg, were divided into sham operation group (control group, n=10) and intervertebral disc degeneration model group (experimental group, n=20). Interbertebral disc degeneration models were establ ished by puncture of L3,4, L4,5, and L5,6 intervertebral discs in the experimental group; intervertebral discs were exposed only and then sutured in the control group. The degree of intervertebral disc degeneration was evaluated according to Pfirrmann classification by MRI at 4 and 8 weeks after establ ishing models. Apototic cells were determined by TUNEL and histological methods, and the immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expressions of BNIP3 in nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc. Results MRI examination showed that the signal intensity decreased gradually at 4 and 8 weeks in the experimental group. There wassignificant difference in the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration between at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks in the experimental group (P lt; 0.05). The histological observation and TUNEL test showed that high density of nucleus pulposus cells and only a few apoptotic cells were observed in the control group; at 4 and 8 weeks, the density of nucleus pulposus cells decreased gradually with more apoptotic cells in the experimental group. There were significant differences in the nucleus pulposus cell density and positive rate of TUNEL staining between 2 groups, and between at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks in the experimental group (P lt; 0.05). The expression of BNIP3 of nucleus pulposus was negative in the control group; however, in the experimental group, the positive expression rates of BNIP3 of nucleus pulposus (the gray values) were 13.45% ± 1.16% and 32.00% ± 1.82% (194.32 ± 4.65 and 117.54 ± 2.11) at 4 and 8 weeks respectively, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The decrease of cell density in nucleus pulposus is involved in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration. Cell apoptosis is one of reasons in the decrease of nucleus pulposus cell; BNIP3 is involved in nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis in the degenerative intervertebral disc.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Vitamin C (Vit C) on the apoptosis of human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells induced by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and serum deprivation. MethodsThe NP cells were isolated from patients undergoing spine corrective operation by collagenase trypsin. The experiment was divided into 3 groups:Vit C group (group A), TNF-α group (group B), and serum deprivation group (group C). Group A was reassigned to A1 subgroup (basic medium), A2 subgroup (100 μg/mL Vit C), and A3 subgroup (200 μg/mL Vit C). Group B was reassigned to B0 subgroup (control group), B1 subgroup (100 ng/mL TNF-α), B2 subgroup (100 μg/mL Vit C+100 ng/mL TNF-α), and B3 subgroup (200 μg/mL Vit C+100 ng/mL TNF-α). Group C was reassigned to C0 subgroup (Control group), C1 subgroup (2% FBS), C2 subgroup (2%FBS+100 μg/mL Vit C), and C3 subgroup (2% FBS+200 μg/mL Vit C). After C1 subgroup (2% FBS), C2 subgroup (2%FBS+100 μg/mL Vit C), and C3 subgroup (2% FBS+200 μg/mL Vit C). After application of 100 μg/mL or 200 μg/mL Vit C for 24 hours, NP cells were stimulated by TNF-α and serum deprivation, then the apoptosis rate of NP cells was detected by a flow cytometry, and the gene expressions of the extracellular matrix of NP cells (collagen type Ⅰ, collagen type Ⅱ, aggrecan, and Sox9) and apoptosis related genes (p53, FAS, and Caspase 3) were detected by real-time fluoroscent quantitative PCR. ResultsGroup A:Vit C could significantly reduce the apoptosis rate and gene expressions of p53, FAS, and Caspase 3 of NP cells in A2 and A3 subgroups when compared with A1 subgroup (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between A2 subgroup and A3 subgroup (P>0.05); Vit C could promote the expressions of the extracellular matrix (collagen type Ⅰ, collagen type Ⅱ, aggrecan, and Sox9) of NP cells in a concentration dependent manner (P<0.05). Group B:TNF-α significantly increased the apoptosis rate and the gene expressions of p53, FAS, and Caspase 3 in B1 subgroup when compared with B0 subgroup (P<0.05); however, Vit C significantly increased the apoptosis rate and the gene expressions in B2 subgroup, and significantly decreased them in B3 subgroup when compared with B1 subgroup (P<0.05). Group C:2% FBS significantly increased the apoptosis rate of NP cells and significantly reduced the gene expressions of p53, FAS, and Caspase 3 in C1 subgroup when compared with C0 subgroup (P<0.05); Vit C could significantly reduce the apoptosis rate and gene expressions of p53, FAS, and Caspase 3 in C3 subgroup, but it could significantly increase them in C2 subgroup when compared with C1 subgroup (P<0.05). ConclusionVit C can promote the synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix of NP cells. 200 μg/mL Vit C may delay the apoptosis induced by TNF-α and serum deprivation, indicating the potential therapeutic effect of Vit C on intervertebral disc degeneration.
【Abstract】 Objective To detect the expression of Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3)in cell death induced by nutrition deprivation in nucleus pulposus cells so as to further understand the mechanism of deathin nucleus pulposus cells. Methods Two adult Sprague Dawley rats, male or female, weighing 150-200 g, were involvedin this experiment. The cells isolated from rat caudal disc were cultured under the condition of L-DMEM culture media,10%FBS, and 21%O2 (control group) and under the condition of DMEM-free glucose culture media, no serum, and 1% O2(experimental group). The expressions of BNIP3 gene and protein were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot. The cell apoptosis rate and mitochondrial membrane potential were measuredby flow cytometry at 24, 48, and 72 hours after culture. Results The expression of BNIP3 decreased in the control group;the expressions of BNIP3 showed an increasing tendency with time in the experimental group, and BNIP3 combined withmitochondria. Significant differences were observed in the expressions of BNIP3 gene and protein between 2 groups at the othertime (P lt; 0.05) except that no significant difference was observed in the expression of BNIP3 gene at 24 hours (P gt; 0.05). Thecell apoptosis rate and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly lower in the experimental group than those in thecontrol group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Upregulation of BNIP3 and translocation to mitochondria may be involved in nucleuspulposus cell death in nutrition deprivation.
Objective To isolate and culture the chondroid cells and notochord cells from New Zealand rabbit immature nucleus pulposus (NP) in monolayer, and to valuate the responsiveness of rabbit disc-derived chondroid cells to notochord cells with respect to cell prol iferation and phenotype. Methods The NP cells were released from the minced immature NP of 6 New Zealand rabbits (4-week-old) by 0.2% collagenase II digestion. The chondroid cells and notochord cells were purified by discontinuous gradient density centrifugation. The chondroid cells were cultured alone (group A) andco-cultured with notochord cells (group B) (1 ∶ 1), and cell prol iferation and phenotype including proteoglycan and collagen II were evaluated. The cells in both groups were observed by the inverted microscope, and the survival rates of the primary and passage cells were detected by toluidine blue staining. The growth curves of the second passage cells in both groups were determined by MTT. Besides, the expressions of proteoglycan and collagen II of the primary and passage cells were examined by toluidine blue and immunocytochemistry staining. Results The notochord cells and chondroid cells were isolated and purified. With the diameter of 10-15 μm, the notochord cell had abundant intracytoplasmic vesicles, while the chondroid cell, with the diameter of 4-6 μm, had no intracytoplasmic vesicle. The cell survival rate was 89.0%-95.3% in group A and 91.3%-96.3% in group B. There was no significant difference between the same passages in both groups (P gt; 0.05). The co-cultured cells (group B) increased in cell prol iferation compared with the chondroid cells alone (group A) in repeated experiments. The cells in group A reached their logarithmic growth phase after 3-4 days of culture, while the cells in group B did after 2 days of culture. The cell prol iferation in group B was more than that in group A after 4-day culture (P lt; 0.05). The cocultured cells retained their phenotype for 5 passages, while parallel-cultured chondroid cells lost the expression of proteoglycan and collagen II after the third passage. Conclusion The notochord cells are conducive for the prol iferation and phenotypekeeping of the chondroid cells and may play a key role in preventing degeneration of the disc.
The material properties and volume proportion of the fibers as well as the cross-sectional area proportion of nucleus pulposus vary greatly in different studies. The effect of these factors on the mechanical behavior of intervertebral discs (IVDs) are uncertain. The IVDs finite element models with different parameters were created to investigate the pressure, height, rotation, stress, and strain of the IVDs under loads: pure compression, rotation after compression or axial moment after compression. The results showed that the material properties of fibers had great impact on the mechanical behavior of IVDs, especially on the rotation angle. When the fiber volume ratio was small, its changes had a significant impact on the rotation angle of the IVDs. The area proportions of nucleus pulposus had relatively little effect on the mechanical behavior of IVDs. The IVDs rotation should be observed when validating the model. By adjusting the elastic modulus or volume ratio of fibers within a reasonable range, a model that could simulate the mechanical behavior of normal IVDs could be obtained. It was reasonable to make the area proportion of nucleus pulposus within 25%–50% for the IVDs finite element model. This study provides guidance and reference for finite element modeling of the IVDs and the investigation of the IVDs degeneration mechanism.
Objective Toreview theresearch progress of nucleus pulposus cells phenot ypic markers. Methods The domestic and international l iterature about nucleus pulposus cells phenotypic markers was reviewed extensively and summarized. Results Due to different biomechanical properties，nucleus pulposus cells and articular chondrocytes have differences in morphology and extracellular components such as the ratio of aggrecan to collagen type II α1. Nucleus pulposus cells can be identified by surface marker (CD24), gene markers (hypoxia inducible factor 1α, glucosetransporter protein 1, matrix metalloproteinase 2, vascular endothel ial growth factor A, etc), and various markers (keratin 19 and glypican 3，paired box 1, forkhead box F1 and integrin-binding sialoprotein, etc). Conclusion Nucleus pulposus cells and articular chondrocytes have different phenotypic markers, but nucleus pulposus cells are still lack of specific markers.
ObjectiveTo research the biological characteristics of different generations of rabbit nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) that were cultured with natural culture and subculture method.MethodsThe thoracolumbar segments of New Zealand white rabbits (6-8 weeks old and weighing 1.5-2.5 kg) were obtained and nucleus pulposus were isolated from disc regions. And NPCs were harvested by enzymatic digestion from nucleus pulposus. Primary NPCs were counted as P0 generation. Then, NPCs were passaged by trypsin and counted as P1, P2, P3 with a totle of 4 generations. P0 to P3 generations NPCs were separately examined by observation of cell morphology and proliferation time, detection of apoptosis rates of cells by flow cytometry, and detection of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2), Aggrecan, and collagen type Ⅱ proteins by immunofluorescence and Western blot.ResultsThe morphology of NPCs transformed from triangular or polygonal in P0 generation to spindle in P3 generation; the characteristic vacuolated cells gradually disappeared; and the cell volume and cell proliferation time increased. The cell apoptosis rates were 5.47%±0.91%, 13.77%±2.42%, 33.46%±1.82%, and 38.76%±1.50% from P0 to P3 generations, with the increase of culture time, and there were significant differences between 4 generations (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that with the increase of cells generation, the fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α, collagen type Ⅱ, and Aggrecan decreased, and the fluorescence intensity of MMP-2 increased. Western blot results showed that the relative expression of HIF-1α protein was high in P0 generation, the P1 generation has a rising trend, and then gradually decreased; the differences between generations were significant (P<0.05). The relative expression of collagen type Ⅱ protein decreased from P0 to P3 generations and there were significant differences between generations (P<0.05). The relative expression of Aggrecan protein decreased from P0 to P2 generations and there were significant differences between generations (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between P2 and P3 generations (P>0.05). The relative expression of MMP-2 protein increased significantly in P3 generation; except that the difference between P0 and P2 generations was not significant (P>0.05), the significant differences were found between the other generations (P<0.05).ConclusionRabbit NPCs degeneration model was successfully established by the natural culture and subculture method. Transforming of NPCs morphology, increasing of cell apoptosis rates, decreasing of anabolism, and increasing of catabolism were presented in NPCs degeneration model.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and correlation of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and autophagy related molecules (Beclin1 and LC3B) in rat nucleus pulposus cells under hypoxia in vitro.MethodsThe nucleus pulposus cells were extracted from the nucleus pulposus of healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats and passaged. The 3rd generation cells were identified by HE staining and collagenase type Ⅱ immunofluorescence staining and randomly divided into 4 groups. The cells in group A were cultured for 8 hours under normal oxygen condition (37℃, 5%CO2, 20%O2); the cells in group B were cultured for 8 hours under hypoxia condition (37℃, 5%CO2, 1%O2); the cells in group C were transfected with HIF-1α-small interfering RNA and cultured for 8 hours under hypoxia condition; and the cells in group D were cultured with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA for 8 hours under hypoxia condition. Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the expressions of HIF-1α and autophagy related molecules (Beclin1 and LC3B) in all groups.ResultsHE staining of the 3rd generation nucleus pulposus cells showed that the cytoplasm was light pink and the nucleus was blue black, and the collagenase type Ⅱ immunofluorescence staining was positive. Western blot and qRT-PCR results showed that the relative expressions of HIF-1α, Beclin1, and LC3B proteins and genes in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.05); the relative expressions of HIF-1α, Beclin1, and LC3B proteins and genes in group C were significantly lower than those in group B (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the relative expression of HIF-1α protein and gene between groups B and D (P>0.05); while the relative expressions of Beclin1 and LC3B proteins and genes in group D were significant lower than those in group B (P<0.05).ConclusionHypoxia can induce the expressions of HIF-1α and autophagy related molecules (Beclin1 and LC3B) in rat nucleus pulposus cells, and HIF-1α in rat nucleus pulposus cells under hypoxia is related to the expression of autophagy related molecules, that is, down-regulation of HIF-1α can significantly reduce the expression of autophagy related molecules, while the down-regulation of autophagy levels under hypoxia has no or little effect on the expression of HIF-1α.
Objective The senescence and death of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells are the pathologic basis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD). To investigate the molecular phenotypes and senescent mechanism of NP cells, and to identify the method of alleviating senescence of NP cells. Methods The primary NP cells were harvested from male SpragueDawley rats (8-10 weeks old); the hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), HIF-1β, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), andcollagen type II as phenotypic markers were identified through immunocytochemical staining. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to test the silencing effect of NP cells after the NP cells were transfected with p53 and p21 small interference RNA (siRNA). Senescence associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining was used to test the senescence of NP cells, flow cytometry to test the change of cell cycle, the growth curve analysis to test the NP cells prol iferation. Results Immunocytochemical staining showed that NP cells expressed HIF-1α, HIF-1β, MMP-2, and collagen type II. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the relative expressions of mRNA and protein of p53 and p21 were significantly inhibited in NP cells at passage 35 after transfected with p53 and p21 siRNA. The percentage of SA-β-gal-positive NP cells at passage 35 was significantly higher than that at passage 1 (P lt; 0.001). And the percentage of SA-β-gal-positive NP cells in the p53 siRNA transfection group and p21 siRNA transfection group were significantly lower than that in control group (Plt; 0.001). The flow cytometry showed that the G1 phase of NP cells in p53 siRNA transfection group and p21 siRNA transfection group was significantly shorter than that in control group (P lt; 0.05), but the S phase of NP cells in p53 siRNA transfection group and p21 siRNA transfection group were significantly longer than that in control group (P lt; 0.05). In addition, the growth curve showed that the growth rate of NP cells could be promoted after transfection of p53 and p21 siRNA. Conclusion The senescence of NP cells can be alleviated by silencing of p53 and p21. The effect of alleviating senescence can even ameliorate the progress of IVD and may be a useful and potential therapy for IVD.