TY - JOUR AB - Symptomatic degenerative disc disease (DDD) is considered the leading cause of chronic lower back pain (LBP). As one of the main features of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), vascular ingrowth plays a crucial role in the progression of LBP. Stromal cell‑derived factor 1 (SDF1) and its receptor C‑X‑C receptor 4 (CXCR4) were reported to be overexpressed in the degenerated intervertebral discs, suggesting that they may be involved in the pathogenesis of IDD. Moreover, SDF1 has been identified to induce neovascularization in rheumatoid arthritis disease. However, the roles of the SDF1/CXCR4 axis in the neovascularization of IDD remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to elucidate whether the SDF1/CXCR4 axis takes part in neovascularization in degenerated intervertebral discs and its underlying mechanisms. Adenovirus infection was used to upregulate SDF1 expression in primary nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). The effects of SDF1 on the proliferation and angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) were assessed by Cell Counting Kit‑8 and tube formation assays after VECs were treated with the supernatants derived from SDF1 overexpressed or not treated NPCs. Transwell chambers using the supernatants from NPCs as chemokines were applied to assess VEC migration and invasion. AMD3100, MK‑2206 and SF1670 were used to antagonize CXCR4, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in VECs. The results revealed that SDF1 overexpression significantly increased the ratio of phosphorylated AKT to AKT and decreased PTEN expression in NPCs, as well as enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis abilities of VECs. However, these effects induced by SDF1 overexpression in NPCs were all reversed when VECs were pretreated with AMD3100 or MK‑2206, whereas enhanced by SF1670 treatment. Collectively, the present study indicated that enhancement of the SDF1/CXCR4 axis in NPCs can significantly accelerate angiogenesis by regulating the PTEN/phosphatidylinositol‑3‑kinase/AKT pathway. AD - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Huichuan, Zunyi 563000, P.R. China Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China AU - Zhang,Hanxiang AU - Wang,Peng AU - Zhang,Xiang AU - Zhao,Wenrui AU - Ren,Honglei AU - Hu,Zhenming DA - 2020/11/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2020.11498 EP - 4172 IS - 5 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - SDF1/CXCR4 nucleus pulposus cells vascular endothelial cells angiogenesis PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling PY - 2020 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 4163 ST - SDF1/CXCR4 axis facilitates the angiogenesis via activating the PI3K/AKT pathway in degenerated discs T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - SDF1/CXCR4 axis facilitates the angiogenesis via activating the PI3K/AKT pathway in degenerated discs UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2020.11498 VL - 22 ER -