Expression and effects of leukemia inhibitory factor on nucleus pulposus degeneration

  • Authors:
    • Qiang Xiao
    • Ji‑Huan Zeng
    • Hao Zhou
    • Quan‑He Qiu
    • Bo Ke
    • Liang Deng
    • Zhen‑Ming Hu
    • Jeffrey Roh
    • Min Dai
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 17, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.9874
  • Pages: 2377-2385
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a multifunctional cytokine. The present study aimed to determine the expression and effects of LIF on nucleus pulposus generation. Degenerated nucleus pulposus samples were obtained from animal models and patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Degradation scores of intervertebral discs were evaluated via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology, and the protein expression levels of LIF were detected. Furthermore, cultured primary human degenerated nucleus pulposus cells (DNPCs) were stimulated with various concentrations of recombinant human LIF protein (rhLIF), and aggrecan and collagen type II α1 (COL2α1) protein expression levels were detected by western blotting. In addition, aggrecan expression was determined by toluidine blue staining. The effects of rhLIF on proliferation and apoptosis of DNPCs were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit‑8 and flow cytometry, respectively. The results revealed that the degradation scores of intervertebral discs were significantly associated with modeling time, as determined by MRI and histology. In addition, the protein expression levels of LIF were initially increased in patients with lumbar disc herniation and in rabbit models, particularly in the 2‑week modeling group; however, its expression decreased with the progression of disc degeneration. Notably, LIF expression in each modeling group was higher than that in the control and 0 week modeling group. The in vitro study revealed that the protein expression levels of aggrecan and COL2α1 were significantly increased in response to rhLIF, in a dose‑dependent manner, and statistical differences were identified between the treatment groups and control group. The results of toluidine blue staining were consistent with this finding. Although rhLIF had no effect on proliferation, it inhibited apoptosis of DNPCs in a concentration‑dependent manner. In conclusion, LIF was upregulated during the process of intervertebral disc degeneration, and may promote the expression of extracellular matrix components. It may also be hypothesized that LIF acts as a potential protective factor by inhibiting apoptosis of DNPCs without affecting cell proliferation.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

March-2019
Volume 19 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Xiao Q, Zeng JH, Zhou H, Qiu QH, Ke B, Deng L, Hu ZM, Roh J and Dai M: Expression and effects of leukemia inhibitory factor on nucleus pulposus degeneration. Mol Med Rep 19: 2377-2385, 2019
APA
Xiao, Q., Zeng, J., Zhou, H., Qiu, Q., Ke, B., Deng, L. ... Dai, M. (2019). Expression and effects of leukemia inhibitory factor on nucleus pulposus degeneration. Molecular Medicine Reports, 19, 2377-2385. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.9874
MLA
Xiao, Q., Zeng, J., Zhou, H., Qiu, Q., Ke, B., Deng, L., Hu, Z., Roh, J., Dai, M."Expression and effects of leukemia inhibitory factor on nucleus pulposus degeneration". Molecular Medicine Reports 19.3 (2019): 2377-2385.
Chicago
Xiao, Q., Zeng, J., Zhou, H., Qiu, Q., Ke, B., Deng, L., Hu, Z., Roh, J., Dai, M."Expression and effects of leukemia inhibitory factor on nucleus pulposus degeneration". Molecular Medicine Reports 19, no. 3 (2019): 2377-2385. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.9874