title: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor CXCR4 are upregulated expression in degenerated intervertebral discs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 induce degradation of articular cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), the association between the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway and degradation of the cartilaginous endplate and nucleus pulposus has not been thoroughly clarified. We investigated the expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 in intervertebral discs (IVDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  SDF-1 and CXCR4 levels in human IVDs and the rat L5/6 motion segment were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SDF-1 staining was quantified using a microscope and Image-Pro Plus software. Integrated optical density (IOD) served as the measurement parameter. The number of CXCR4 immunoreactive cells was expressed as a percentage of the total number of cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SDF-1 and CXCR4 were both expressed in IVDs, and the levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 were both significantly higher in the degeneration group than in the normal group of human (or rat) discs. Both nucleus pulposus cells and cartilaginous endplate cells expressed the CXCR4 protein. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the SDF-1 IOD value and the percentage of CXCR4-positive disc cells in the nucleus pulposus and cartilaginous endplate. The SDF-1 IOD values were significantly higher in the outer annular fibrosus and bone/endplate junction region than in the nucleus pulposus and cartilaginous endplate in the rat specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest upregulated expression of SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 in degenerated IVD.
authors: 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: 2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, the Red Cross Hospital, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 208 East Road, Hangzhou Ring, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Linwei
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Wanli
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Fangcai
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No.88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Qixin
authors: Q
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4
keywords: CXCR4; SDF-1; endplate; intervertebral disc; nucleus pulposus