title: Cells from degenerative intervertebral discs demonstrate unfavorable responses to mechanical and inflammatory stimuli: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mechanical forces and inflammatory signaling influence intervertebral disc matrix homeostasis. We hypothesized that annulus fibrosus cells from degenerative discs would have altered responses to mechanical and inflammatory stimuli compared with cells isolated from normal discs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Annulus fibrosus cells were isolated from New Zealand White rabbits with normal and magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed degenerative discs created by annular stab. Cells were cultured with and without inflammatory and mechanical stimuli (tensile strain). After 4 or 24 hrs, the mRNA expression of inflammatory, catabolic, and anabolic genes was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline gene expression differences were noted between cells from normal and degenerative discs. Degenerative cells demonstrated a more proinflammatory response profile to inflammatory and mechanical stimuli and loss of the beneficial effects of mechanical signaling. Decreased expression of catabolic and anabolic genes was observed in degenerative cells under conditions of inflammatory and mechanical stimuli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate that degenerative cells have a decreased capacity to respond positively to beneficial levels of mechanical strain and demonstrate an exaggerated response to an inflammatory stimulus. This may, in part, help to explain differential responses to motion-based therapies in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Gwendolyn A
authors: GA
authors: Sowa
authors: J Paulo
authors: JP
authors: Coelho
authors: Nam V
authors: NV
authors: Vo
authors: Corey
authors: C
authors: Pacek
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Westrick
authors: James D
authors: JD
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators