Open Access

Col9a2 gene deletion accelerates the degeneration of intervertebral discs

  • Authors:
    • Huihui Xu
    • Rui Dong
    • Qinghe Zeng
    • Liang Fang
    • Qinwen Ge
    • Chenjie Xia
    • Peng Zhang
    • Shuaijie Lv
    • Zhen Zou
    • Pinger Wang
    • Ju Li
    • Hongfeng Ruan
    • Songfeng Hu
    • Chengliang Wu
    • Hongting Jin
    • Peijian Tong
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 7, 2022     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11130
  • Article Number: 207
  • Copyright: © Xu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

As an essential component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cartilage, the α2 chain of type IX collagen (Col9a2), has been implicated in human intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). However, the precise role of the Col9a2 gene in the pathogenesis of IVDD has remained elusive. In the present study, the spines of Col9a2‑deficient (Col9a2‑/‑) mice were systematically analyzed and compared with wild‑type control mice using micro‑CT (µCT), histomorphology, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR). µCT analysis revealed that endplate (EP) osteochondral remodeling in the Col9a2‑/‑ group was accompanied by a significant increase in EP porosity. Likewise, histopathological staining at 12 weeks revealed that the Col9a2‑/‑ mice exhibited a marked early‑stage IVDD phenotype, including EP sclerosis, calcification and annulus fibrosus rupture. The immunofluorescence results indicated that Col9a2 was extensively expressed in the IVDs, whereas it was barely detectable in Col9a2‑/‑ mice. Immunohistochemical and RT‑qPCR analyses demonstrated that the expression levels of Col2a1 and Aggrecan in the IVDs of Col9a2‑/‑ mice were significantly decreased. In addition, the levels of Mmp13, ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5, Col10a1 and Runx family transcription factor 2 were significantly elevated. These results suggested that deletion of the Col9a2 gene led to osteochondral remodeling of cartilage EP and suppressed ECM synthesis, accelerating matrix degradation and chondrocyte hypertrophy in the IVD tissue.
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March-2022
Volume 23 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Xu H, Dong R, Zeng Q, Fang L, Ge Q, Xia C, Zhang P, Lv S, Zou Z, Wang P, Wang P, et al: Col9a2 gene deletion accelerates the degeneration of intervertebral discs. Exp Ther Med 23: 207, 2022
APA
Xu, H., Dong, R., Zeng, Q., Fang, L., Ge, Q., Xia, C. ... Tong, P. (2022). Col9a2 gene deletion accelerates the degeneration of intervertebral discs. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 23, 207. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11130
MLA
Xu, H., Dong, R., Zeng, Q., Fang, L., Ge, Q., Xia, C., Zhang, P., Lv, S., Zou, Z., Wang, P., Li, J., Ruan, H., Hu, S., Wu, C., Jin, H., Tong, P."Col9a2 gene deletion accelerates the degeneration of intervertebral discs". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 23.3 (2022): 207.
Chicago
Xu, H., Dong, R., Zeng, Q., Fang, L., Ge, Q., Xia, C., Zhang, P., Lv, S., Zou, Z., Wang, P., Li, J., Ruan, H., Hu, S., Wu, C., Jin, H., Tong, P."Col9a2 gene deletion accelerates the degeneration of intervertebral discs". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 23, no. 3 (2022): 207. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2022.11130