title: [Research progress of nucleus pulposus cells phenotypic markers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the research progress of nucleus pulposus cells phenotypic markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The domestic and international literature about nucleus pulposus cells phenotypic markers was reviewed extensively and summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Due to different biomechanical properties, nucleus pulposus cells and articular chondrocytes have differences in morphology and extracellular components such as the ratio of aggrecan to collagen type II alpha1. Nucleus pulposus cells can be identified by surface marker (CD24), gene markers (hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha, glucose-transporter protein 1, matrix metalloproteinase 2, vascular endothelial growth factor A, etc), and various markers (keratin 19 and glypican 3, paired box 1, forkhead box F1 and integrin-binding sialoprotein, etc).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nucleus pulposus cells and articular chondrocytes have different phenotypic markers, but nucleus pulposus cells are still lack of specific markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Heilongjiang, 150001, P.R.China. hanchenglong1973@126.com
authors.forename: Chenglong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hongxun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D009672:Notochord / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers