INTRODUCTION Increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in intervertebral discs (IVDs) leads to inflammation, which results in progressive IVD degeneration. We have previously reported that activation of Wnt-β-catenin (hereafter called Wnt) signaling suppresses the proliferation of nucleus pulposus cells and induces cell senescence, suggesting that Wnt signaling triggers the pro...

Objective To investigate changes in nucleus pulposus cell expression and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α following stimulation with a low-frequency (LF) pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). Methods Primary rat nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured in vitro, followed by stimulation with LF-PEMFs at a frequency of 2 Hz and different intensities, ran...

STUDY DESIGN An in vitro biologic study of the effects of adenovirus expressing bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and adenovirus expressing Sox9 on extracellular matrix metabolism by bovine nucleus pulposus cells. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing various BMPs (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15) and Sox9 on extracellular matrix accumulat...

Axial MR images of 65 lumbar disks with herniated nucleus pulposus imaged by gradient-refocused-echo (GRE) and spin-echo (SE) MR pulse sequences of 200-400/15 with a flip angle of 15-30 degrees was selected as optimal because of its high signal-to-noise ratio and good contrast between CSF, nucleus pulposus, and bone. The GRE technique was confirmed to be more sensitive in detecting prolapsed di...

This editorial addresses the debate concerning the origin of adult nucleus pulposus cells in the light of profiling studies by Minogue and colleagues. In their report of several marker genes that distinguish nucleus pulposus cells from other related cell types, the authors provide novel insights into the notochordal nature of the former. Together with recently published work, their work lends s...

INTRODUCTION Development of cell therapies for repairing the intervertebral disc is limited by the lack of a source of healthy human disc cells. Stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells, are seen as a potential source but differentiation strategies are limited by the lack of specific markers that can distinguish disc cells from articular chondrocytes. METHODS We searched for markers us...

BACKGROUND Earlier work has suggested that the p38 MAPK, JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 signal pathway existed in nucleus pulposus cells and the cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis were regulated by them. Because osmotic fluctuations are inevitable in the physicochemical environment of intervertebral disc cells, high osmolality could activate p38 MAPK, JNK1/2 and ERK1/2 signal pathway. The effects of ...

OBJECTIVE To describe clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features in dogs with compressive cervical myelopathy due to acute suspected hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS Ten dogs with compressive cervical myelopathy caused by acute suspected hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medical records and magnetic resonance ima...

Aloperine is an alkaloid that exerts significant inhibitive effects on acute inflammation and Type III and IV hypersensitivity caused by a variety of inflammatory agents. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether the protective effect of aloperine attenuates hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury, and to identify the underlying mechanisms involved. Nucleus pulposus cells were e...