title: The role of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in intervertebral disc degeneration.
abstract: The present study investigates the histological alterations and expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in disc specimens of 43 patients who underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation. The immunostaining for MMP-9 was evaluated semi-quantitatively. Histologic degeneration was scored between 0 and 12 depending on the degree of chondrocyte proliferation and presence of tears and clefts, granular changes and mucous degeneration. Herniation was graded as grade 1 (protrusion), grade 2 (extrusion) or grade 3 (sequestration) on MRI. Although there was no significant statistical difference between the histologic degeneration score and age, degenerative changes were more pronounced in higher grade of herniation (p<0.0001). MMP-9 expression was related to histologic degenerative score in all age groups (p=0.0065). MMP-9 was also related to herniation grade in patients younger than 30 years of age (p=0.0037). No significant association was found between MMP-9 expression and herniation grade in patients who were 30-60 years or over 60 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zigouris
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Alexiou
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batistatou
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voulgaris
authors.forename: Athanasios P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kyritsis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9