title: Heparanase isoform expression and extracellular matrix remodeling in intervertebral disc degenerative disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the molecules involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and to identify and quantify heparanase isoforms present in herniated and degenerative discs.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Heparanase is an endo-beta-glucuronidase that specifically acts upon the heparan sulfate chains of proteoglycans. However, heparanase expression in degenerative intervertebral discs has not yet been evaluated. Notably, previous studies demonstrated a correlation between changes in the heparan sulfate proteoglycan pattern and the degenerative process associated with intervertebral discs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine samples of intervertebral degenerative discs, 23 samples of herniated discs and 12 samples of non-degenerative discs were analyzed. The expression of both heparanase isoforms (heparanase-1 and heparanase-2) was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heparanase-1 and heparanase-2 expression levels were significantly higher in the herniated and degenerative discs in comparison to the control tissues, suggesting a possible role of these proteins in the intervertebral degenerative process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overexpression of heparanase isoforms in the degenerative intervertebral discs and the herniated discs suggests a potential role of both proteins in the mediation of inflammatory processes and in extracellular matrix remodeling. The heparanase-2 isoform may be involved in normal metabolic processes, as evidenced by its higher expression in the control intervertebral discs relative to the expression of heparanase-1.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Faculdade de Medicina ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Miller Reis
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Thérèse Rachell
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Theodoro
authors.forename: Leandro Luongo
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mader
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida da Silva
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pinhal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000201:enzymology*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000201:enzymology*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult; D000099175:Heparanase
chemical_list: D005966:Glucuronidase; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000099175:Heparanase