title: Disc strain and resulting positive mRNA expression from application of a noninvasive treatment.
abstract: METHODS
  Bovine caudal intervertebral discs were exposed to a noninvasive vibrating intervention for 10 minutes at amplitudes of 0 or 0.5 to 5 g and frequencies of 0, 16, 50 to 80, and a combined 16+50 to 80 Hz treatment. Expression of mRNA for aggrecan, collagen type I, collagen type II, biglycan, decorin, and versican were assayed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the intervention is effective in altering intervertebral disc gene expression.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Studies have variously suggested either an increased risk of disc degeneration with vibrations, no effect, analgesic effect, or even positive effects within certain loading parameters. The KKT intervention is in clinical use for spinal ailment pain reduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was applied in a clinic emulation set-up. Gene expression in the nucleus pulposus was assessed using real-time RT-PCR and SYBR Green chemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of mRNAs for aggrecan, collagen type II, and versican were significantly effected by the intervention. Collagen type I, biglycan, and decorin were uneffected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of the extracellular matrix genes were significantly up-regulated when vibrated with the intervention under specific loading patterns, indicating a potential therapeutic stimulus. Further studies on the protein-level and long-term effects are warranted. Previous studies have indicated a mixed effect of vibrations in the human spine. In this study, a clinical intervention using vibrations was applied to bovine intervertebral discs, and gene expression in the nucleus pulposus was measured. Several extracellular matrix genes were up-regulated, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect.
authors.affiliation: Optima Health Solutions International Corp., KKT International, Vancouver, BC, Canada. gdesmoulin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Geoffrey T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Desmoulin
authors.forename: Carol R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002417:Cattle; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016014:Linear Models; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D015854:Up-Regulation; D053675:Versicans / Q000235:genetics; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D024043:Collagen Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053675:Versicans