Angiopoietin-2 promotes extracellular matrix degradation in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells

  • Authors:
    • Kun Wang
    • Liang Kang
    • Wei Liu
    • Yu Song
    • Xinghuo Wu
    • Yukun Zhang
    • Wenbin Hua
    • Kangcheng Zhao
    • Shuai Li
    • Ji Tu
    • Rongjin Luo
    • Cao Yang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 19, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3576
  • Pages: 3551-3558
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Abstract

In contrast to healthy intervertebral discs (IVDs), degenerate IVDs become vascularized. Here, we determined the role of an angiogenesis promoter, angiopoietin (Ang)-2, in the pathology of IVD degeneration (IDD). We evaluated degree of IDD using the Pfirrmann grading system. We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting to analyze ANG2 gene expression and Ang-2 protein levels, respectively. The involvement of Ang-2 in IVD degradation and regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling was examined by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and immunofluorescence. As a result, 10 samples with grades II and III IDD were categorized as the mild IDD group; for comparison, another 10 specimens with grades IV and V constituted the severe IDD group. Ang-2 expression was significantly higher in severe IDD than in mild IDD. Exogenous Ang-2 administration led to increased production of catabolic proteinases and loss of aggrecan and collagen II in degenerative NP cell cultures, which was mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway. Elevated Ang-2 levels also increased interleukin-1β expression in degenerative NP cells. We conclude that the release of Ang-2 aggravates NP cell degradation and plays an important role in IDD. Ang-2 may thus constitute a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of IVD.
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June-2018
Volume 41 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Wang K, Kang L, Liu W, Song Y, Wu X, Zhang Y, Hua W, Zhao K, Li S, Tu J, Tu J, et al: Angiopoietin-2 promotes extracellular matrix degradation in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells. Int J Mol Med 41: 3551-3558, 2018.
APA
Wang, K., Kang, L., Liu, W., Song, Y., Wu, X., Zhang, Y. ... Yang, C. (2018). Angiopoietin-2 promotes extracellular matrix degradation in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 41, 3551-3558. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3576
MLA
Wang, K., Kang, L., Liu, W., Song, Y., Wu, X., Zhang, Y., Hua, W., Zhao, K., Li, S., Tu, J., Luo, R., Yang, C."Angiopoietin-2 promotes extracellular matrix degradation in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 41.6 (2018): 3551-3558.
Chicago
Wang, K., Kang, L., Liu, W., Song, Y., Wu, X., Zhang, Y., Hua, W., Zhao, K., Li, S., Tu, J., Luo, R., Yang, C."Angiopoietin-2 promotes extracellular matrix degradation in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 41, no. 6 (2018): 3551-3558. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3576