Dataset Information

VEGF vascularization pathway in human intervertebral disc does not change during the disc degeneration process.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:During degeneration of the intervertebral disc ingrowth of blood vessels and nerves into the disc are associated with back pain. Vascular endothelial growth factors promote vasculogenesis by binding to the membrane vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, while shorter soluble forms of this receptor can inhibit vascularization. We hypothesized that membrane and soluble receptor forms might change between stages of intervertebral disc degeneration. RESULTS:Expression of soluble and membrane forms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 in human degenerated intervertebral discs and healthy bovine caudal discs was assessed by qRT-PCR and immunoblot. Comparative microarray meta-analysis across disc degeneration grades showed that membrane and soluble forms of this receptor, together with other components of classic vascularization pathways, are constitutively expressed across human disc degeneration stages. Contrary to our hypothesis, we observed that expression of the classic vascularization pathway is stable across degeneration stages and we assume that soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 does not contribute to prevent disc degeneration. However, we observed increased expression levels of genes involved in alternative vascularization signalling pathways in severely degenerated discs, suggesting that abnormal vascularization is part of the pathological progression of disc degeneration.

SUBMITTER: Capossela S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5963106 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

VEGF vascularization pathway in human intervertebral disc does not change during the disc degeneration process.

Capossela Simona S Bertolo Alessandro A Gunasekera Kapila K Pötzel Tobias T Baur Martin M Stoyanov Jivko V JV

BMC research notes 20180522 1

<h4>Objective</h4>During degeneration of the intervertebral disc ingrowth of blood vessels and nerves into the disc are associated with back pain. Vascular endothelial growth factors promote vasculogenesis by binding to the membrane vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, while shorter soluble forms of this receptor can inhibit vascularization. We hypothesized that membrane and soluble receptor forms might change between stages of intervertebral disc degeneration.<h4>Results</h4>Expressio ...[more]

PMID: 29784013

Similar Datasets

Project description:Intervertebral discs (IVDs) are often referred to as the largest avascular structures of the human body, yet a collective resource characterizing the vascularization of the IVD does not exist. To address this gap, the objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive search of the literature to review and summarize current knowledge of the prevalence and localization of blood supply in human IVDs, with a scoping review. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed publications on the topic of IVD vascularization in humans was conducted across six electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and BIOSIS Previews. Studies of humans were included regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, and health status, with the exception of IVD herniation. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts and full-texts according to eligibility criteria. The review was conducted and reported according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Our search yielded 3122 articles, with 22 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The study samples ranged in age from fetal to >90 years and included both sexes, various health statuses, and used different methodologies (eg, histology, medical imaging, and gross dissection) to assess vasculature. Overall, consistent observations were that (a) the nucleus pulposus of the IVD is avascular throughout life, (b) both the cartilage endplates and annulus fibrosus receive considerable blood supply early in life that diminishes over the lifespan, and (c) vascular ingrowth into the cartilage endplates and inner layers of the annulus fibrosus is commonly associated with damaged or disrupted tissue, irrespective of age. Histology and immunohistochemistry are often used to report vascularization of the IVD. The body of the current literature suggests that the IVD should not be generalized as an avascular tissue. Instead, vascularization of the IVD differs based on the constituent tissues, their age, and state of degeneration or damage.

Dataset Information

VEGF vascularization pathway in human intervertebral disc does not change during the disc degeneration process.

Publications

VEGF vascularization pathway in human intervertebral disc does not change during the disc degeneration process.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets