Journal ArticleDOI
Cell Cluster Formation in Degenerate Lumbar Intervertebral Discs is Associated with Increased Disc Cell Proliferation
TLDR
Observations suggest that disc cell proliferation is associated with disc degeneration and is the likely cause of cell cluster formation.Abstract:
Healthy human intervertebral discs contain relatively few cells and these are sparsely distributed. A characteristic feature of disc degeneration, however, is the appearance of cell clusters, particularly in damaged areas. How these clusters form is currently unknown. We have examined excised pathological human discs for evidence of cell proliferation. Disc sections were immunostained for the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen. PCNA immunopositive cells were observed within degenerate discs, commonly though not exclusively, in cell clusters. Cells immunopositive for the Ki-67 antigen were less prevalent than those for PCNA, but similarly were observed frequently within clusters in degenerate discs. In contrast, immunopositivity for these markers was not common in less degenerate discs or in areas of the disc where cell clusters were not observed. These observations suggest that disc cell proliferation is associated with disc degeneration and is the likely cause of cell cluster formation.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Degeneration of the intervertebral disc
Jill P. G. Urban,Sally Roberts +1 more
TL;DR: The intervertebral disc is a cartilaginous structure that resembles articular cartilage in its biochemistry, but morphologically it is clearly different, and shows degenerative and ageing changes earlier than does any other connective tissue in the body.
Journal ArticleDOI
Histology and pathology of the human intervertebral disc
TL;DR: The intervertebral disc is a highly organized matrix laid down by relatively few cells in a specific manner that allows the discs to facilitate movement and flexibility within what would be an otherwise rigid spine.
Journal ArticleDOI
Intervertebral disc: anatomy-physiology-pathophysiology-treatment.
TL;DR: The degenerative disc, having lost its height, effects the structures close by, such as ligamentum flavum, facet joints, and the shape of the neural foramina, the main cause of spinal stenosis and radicular pain due to the disc degeneration in the aged populations.
Journal ArticleDOI
The cell biology of intervertebral disc aging and degeneration
TL;DR: The finding that the onset of human disc degeneration occurs as early as by adolescence is indicated, because they are the major causes of the biologic changes experienced by disc cells.
Journal ArticleDOI
Senescence in human intervertebral discs
TL;DR: An increased degree of cell senescence is demonstrated in herniated discs, particularly in the nucleus where cell clusters occur, which could have two important clinical implications: first, that since senescent cells are known to behave abnormally in other locations, they may lead to deleterious effects on the disc matrix and so contribute to the pathogenesis and secondly, cells from such tissue may not be ideal for cell therapy and repair via tissue engineering.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Preliminary evaluation of a scheme for grading the gross morphology of the human intervertebral disc
TL;DR: A five-category grading scheme for assessing the gross morphology of midsagittal sections of the human lumbar intervertebral disc was developed and the ability of three observers to categorize a series of 68 discs with a wide spectrum of morphologies established the comprehensiveness of the classification.
Journal ArticleDOI
Proliferating cell nuclear antigen is required for DNA excision repair.
TL;DR: The ability to visualize repair intermediates in the absence of PCNA facilitates dissection of the multiprotein reaction that leads to incision of damaged DNA in a major pathway of cellular defense against mutagens.
Journal Article
Factors involved in the nutrition of the human lumbar intervertebral disc: cellularity and diffusion of glucose in vitro.
TL;DR: Calculated findings and derived values for glucose utilization in disc tissue indicate that nutritional conditions in the intervertebral disc are more critical than, for example, in articular cartilage.
Journal ArticleDOI
Type X collagen synthesis in human osteoarthritic cartilage. Indication of chondrocyte hypertrophy.
TL;DR: Findings indicate focal premature chondrocyte differentiation to hypertrophic cells in OA cartilage, which is consistent with the appearance of hypertrophic chondROcytes in osteoarthritic cartilage.
Journal ArticleDOI
Stimulation of mature canine intervertebral disc by growth factors.
TL;DR: The responses observed, particularly in the nucleus and transition zone, suggest the possibility that disc repair can be modulated by growth factors, and a therapeutic approach to degenerative disc disease involving enhanced tissue repair by exogenous growth factors would be of great clinical significance.