Absence of biglycan accelerates the degenerative process in mouse intervertebral disc.
METHODS
A study of the histologic changes of the intervertebral discs (IVDs) in biglycan (Bgn)-deficient mice.


OBJECTIVE
In this study, we investigate whether the absence of Bgn accelerates the degenerative process in mouse intervertebral disc (IVD).


BACKGROUND
Proteoglycans and collagen fibrils are major components in the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition of IVD. The ECM of IVD contains several members of the small leucine repeat proteoglycans (SLRPs) family. Bgn is one member of SLRPs family, and showed a unique expression with age and degeneration in the human IVD. To date, there have been no in vivo studies to see whether SLRPs have a role in maintaining the structural integrity of IVD. To explore the functions of Bgn in the IVD, we examined discs in Bgn-deficient mice.


METHODS
A total of 30 spine specimens were harvested from wild-type (WT) and Bgn-deficient mice. Five specimens for each genotype at 4-, 6-, and 9-month old were examined in the experiments. Histologic analysis of the IVD was performed. Histologic gradings were performed separately on nucleus pulposus, anulus fibrosus, and endplate according to the classification system proposed by Boos et al.


RESULTS
We found that Bgn-deficient mice developed an early onset of disc degeneration compared with WT mice. The degenerative scores of Bgn-deficient mice were significantly higher than those of WT mice at 4- and 9-month-old. High scores for nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus in Bgn-deficient mice significantly affected the difference in total degenerative scores at 9 months of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Bgn deficiency significantly accelerated disc degeneration.
Furukawa
Takashi
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.
Ito
Kazuo
K
Nuka
Satoshi
S
Hashimoto
Junichi
J
Takei
Hiroshi
H
Takahara
Masatoshi
M
Ogino
Toshihiko
T
Young
Marian F
MF
Shinomura
Tamayuki
T
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D058578:Biglycan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C546884:BGN protein, human; C546885:Bgn protein, mouse; D058578:Biglycan; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans