Expression of matrix factors in the process of neovascularization of intervertebral disc

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of proteins products of endothelial cells (ECs) on the annulus fibrosus (AF) cell metabolism in an in vitro culture.METHODS:Human AF cells were expanded in monolayer cultures and treated with proteins from the medium of cell line HMEC-1 (Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells) (125µg/ml). After 72h of treatment RNA was isolated from AF cells for analysis of gene expression and the culture medium was collected for protein expression analysis.RESULTS: The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated increased gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in AF cells treated with protein products of endothelial cells compared with cells from control group of AF cells: MMP-1 243.10 times (pCONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that the proteins produced by ECs induced the MMPs expression and suppressed the TIMPs as well as the aggrecan in primary cells of the human intervertebral disc, targeting the development of potential treatments for intervertebral disc degeneration and associated discogenic pain.

Keywords

• Disco intervertebral
• Neovascularización patológica
• Metaloproteinasas de la matriz