The development of fibrocartilage in the rat intervertebral disc

The development of fibrocartilage in rat lumbar intervertebral discs has been correlated with an immunohistochemical analysis of the changing distribution of extracellular matrix components. Disc anlagen were first recognised by embryonic day 14 as segmental cell condensations. By E16, the notochord formed a series of bulges, each representing a future nucleus pulposus, and the annulus fibrosus had differentiated in the disc anlagen. The inner part of the annulus was composed of cartilage which linked that of adjacent vertebral bodies. The outer part was fibroblastic, with layers of parallel fibroblasts. The long axes of the cells in successive layers lay at an angle of approximately 90° to each other. This criss-cross orientation of cells preceded the oriented deposition of collagen fibres to form the lamellae. Disc anlagen were immunolabelled weakly for types I and III collagen, chondroitin 6-sulphate and dermatan sulphate. Later tissue differentiation was marked by the appearance of type II collagen, chondroitin 4-sulphate and keratan sulphate in the inner annulus. These components also appeared in the outer annulus, but only in adult animals, and indicated metaplastic change in the lamellar fibroblasts. Fibrocartilage in the nucleus pulposus was only seen in old animals, and the origin of the tissue was less clear. However, the fibrocartilage cells appeared to be derived from the cartilage end plate and/or from the inner annulus. We conclude that fibrocartilage in the intervertebral disc is derived from several sources and that the radial distribution patterns of extracellular matrix components in the adult disc are explained by the embryonic origins of its parts.     

Antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc

Summary To study the antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc, the columns of forty eight embryos and fetuses were examined histologically. The primitive disc is composed of two structures: the notochord which shows a progressive expansion into the disc, and the fibrocartilaginous perinotochordal disc. No histological sign of interaction between notochordal and perinotochordal cells, which may explain the notochordal expansion into the discs, was seen. On the other hand, the notochordal intervention in the cartilaginous differentiation of the inner zone is probable.

---

Différenciation anténatale du disque intervertébral humain

Résumé Cette étude de la différenciation anténatale du disque intervertébral humain repose sur l'examen de coupes histologiques de quarante huit colonnes vertébrales d'embryons et de foetus. Le disque primitif est composé de deux structures : la notochorde, qui présente une expansion progressive de son diamètre au sein du disque, et le disque périnotochordal, d'abord mésenchymateux puis fibrocartilagineux. Il n'a pas été mis en évidence de signe histologique témoignant d'une interaction entre les cellules notochordales et les cellules périnotochordales qui puisse expliquer l'expansion de la notochorde au sein des disques. Le rôle de la notochorde dans la différenciation cartilagineuse de la zone centrale est par contre probable.

     

脱细胞纤维环基质对兔纤维环源干细胞分化的影响

目的观察脱细胞纤维环基质(DAFM)对纤维环源干细胞(AFSC)分化行为的影响,为新型纤维环组织工程支架材料的开发提供依据。方法将从新西兰大白兔获得的AFSC接种于由猪纤维环组织制备的DAFM膜和无DAFM膜培养皿,分别进行成脂、成骨、成软骨分化诱导,考察DAFM对AFSC分化行为的影响。结果 AFSC在DAFM膜上生长良好。DAFM膜上AFSC成脂、成软骨诱导分化水平低于无DAFM膜者,而成骨诱导分化水平显著高于无DAFM膜者;DAFM膜上的成脂、成骨及成软骨诱导比值(诱导组基因表达量/对照组基因表达量)均高于无DAFM膜者。结论猪DAFM有利于促进兔AFSC成骨分化,抑制其成脂及成软骨分化,较好地维持AFSC的差异性分化潜能。     

Biaxial mechanics and inter‐lamellar shearing of stem‐cell seeded electrospun angle‐ply laminates for annulus fibrosus tissue engineering

The annulus fibrosus (AF) of the intervertebral disk plays a critical role in vertebral load transmission that is heavily dependent on the microscale structure and composition of the tissue. With degeneration, both structure and composition are compromised, resulting in a loss of AF mechanical function. Numerous tissue engineering strategies have addressed the issue of AF degeneration, but few have focused on recapitulation of AF microstructure and function. One approach that allows for generation of engineered AF with appropriate (+/?)30° lamellar microstructure is the use of aligned electrospun scaffolds seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and assembled into angle‐ply laminates (APL). Previous work indicates that opposing lamellar orientation is necessary for development of near native uniaxial tensile properties. However, most native AF tensile loads are applied biaxially, as the disk is subjected to multi‐axial loads and is constrained by its attachments to the vertebral bodies. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biaxial mechanical response of engineered AF bilayers, and to determine the importance of opposing lamellar structure under this loading regime. Opposing bilayers, which replicate native AF structure, showed a significantly higher modulus in both testing directions compared to parallel bilayers, and reached ～60% of native AF biaxial properties. Associated with this increase in biaxial properties, significantly less shear, and significantly higher stretch in the fiber direction, was observed. These results provide additional insight into native tissue structure–function relationships, as well as new benchmarks for engineering functional AF tissue constructs. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 864–870, 2013     

The Effects of Platelet‐Rich Plasma on Halting the Progression in Porcine Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Disc degeneration and the subsequent herniation and/or rupture of the intervertebral disc (IVD) are due to a failure of the extracellular matrix of the annulus to contain the contents of the nucleus. This results from inadequate maintenance of the matrix components as well as the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade matrix molecules. Arresting progression of disc degeneration in the annulus holds greater clinical potential at this point than prevention of its onset in the nucleus. Therefore, in this study, we have therapeutic aims that would decrease levels of the cytokines and growth factors that indirectly lead to disc degeneration via stimulating MMP and increase levels of several beneficial growth factors, such as transforming growth factor‐β, with the addition of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) that would stimulate cell growth and matrix synthesis. For this study, we attempted to address these imbalances of metabolism by using tumor necrosis factor‐α treated annulus fibrosus cells isolated from porcine IVD tissue and incubating the cells in a growth factor rich environment with PRP. These results indicate that the PRP in vitro increased the production of the major matrix components (type II collagen and aggrecan) and decreased the inhibitory collagenase MMP‐1. This application will address a therapeutic approach for intervening early in the degenerative process.     

Primary stabbing headache in a headache clinic

Primary stabbing headache (PSH) is a short-lasting but troublesome headache disorder which has been known for several decades. We surveyed and registered consecutive patients with PSH in a headache clinic in Taiwan. A total of 80 patients (24 M/56 F, 53.2 +/- 16.2 years) were enrolled in our study. Migraine was reported in 20 (25%) patients and was less common in those with PSH onset at >50 years than those with onset at <50 years (14% vs. 38%, P = 0.02). The headache was unilateral in 59% of the patients and always in a fixed area in 36%. The head pain frequently involved extratrigeminal regions (70%) and in 30 patients (38%) was accompanied by jolts, i.e. head or body movements. Indomethacin was effective (74%) in patients who received it. Our study showed primary stabbing headache was a common and easily treated headache disorder in headache clinic. However, 70% of our patients could not fulfil criterion A 'exclusively or predominantly in the distribution of the first division of the trigeminal nerve' and 15% could not fulfil criterion C 'no accompanying symptoms' of the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II criteria proposed for PSH.     

Accelerated premature stress-induced senescence of young annulus fibrosus cells of rats by high glucose-induced oxidative stress

Purposes

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is thought to be an important aetiological factor in intervertebral disc degeneration. A glucose-mediated increase of oxidative stress is a major causative factor in development of diseases associated with DM. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high glucose on mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress and senescence of young annulus fibrosus (AF) cells.

Methods

AF cells were isolated from four-week-old young rats, cultured, and placed in either 10 % FBS (normal control) or 10 % FBS plus two different high glucose concentrations (0.1 M and 0.2 M) (experimental conditions) for one and three days. We identified and quantified the mitochondrial damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (oxidative stress). We also identified and quantified the occurrence of senescence and telomerase activity. Finally, the expressions of proteins were determined related to replicative senescence (p53-p21-pRB) and stress-induced senescence (p16-pRB).

Results

Two high glucoses enhanced the mitochondrial damage in young rat AF cells, which resulted in an excessive generation of ROS in a dose- and time-dependent manner for one and three days compared to normal control. Two high glucose concentrations increased the occurrence of senescence of young AF cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Telomerase activity declined in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both high glucose treatments increased the expressions of p16 and pRB proteins in young rat AF cells for one and three days. However, compared to normal control, the expressions of p53 and p21 proteins were decreased in young rat AF cells treated with both high glucoses for one and three days.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that high glucose-induced oxidative stress accelerates premature stress-induced senescence in young rat AF cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner rather than replicative senescence. These results suggest that prevention of excessive generation of oxidative stress by strict blood glucose control could be important to prevent or to delay premature intervertebral disc degeneration in young patients with DM.     

仿生可降解组织工程纤维环支架的制备与评估

文题释义： 纤维环：是保持椎间盘强度与脊柱稳定性层面的重要组成部分,纤维环的胶原纤维在椎间盘内呈同心圆排列,每层纤维环间呈60°夹角斜行排列,这类特殊的交错网状架构,令纤维环拥有较强的抗拉性能与压缩性,能够预防髓核往外突出,对保持椎间盘的稳定起着重要的作用。 背景：构建既具有仿生结构又具备合适可降解性和良好生物相容性的组织工程纤维环支架仍是难点。 目的：以聚己内酯和聚二恶烷酮为原材料制备仿生可降解支架并评估其作为组织工程纤维环支架的可行性。 方法：通过熔融纺丝技术制备5组不同比例支架(聚己内酯组、聚己内酯/聚二恶烷酮分别为70/30、50/50、30/70组、聚二恶烷酮组)。扫描电子显微镜观察其结构、纤维直径、孔径;测量支架的力学性能和接触角;通过体外模拟和皮下埋植观察支架体外、体内降解情况;检测降解组织周围炎症因子白细胞介素1β和肿瘤坏死因子α的表达情况。接种人脐带间充质干细胞培养7 d,通过CCK-8和死活细胞检测细胞增殖和存活情况。实验于2016-03-02经天津市天津医院医学伦理委员会批准。 结果与结论：①扫描电子显微镜观察显示各组支架纤维粗细均匀,纤维成60°角;②力学性能分析显示单纯聚二恶烷酮支架的拉伸和压缩模量最低,不符合纤维环力学要求;聚己内酯组的力学性能最佳,聚己内酯/聚二恶烷酮为70/30和50/50的支架力学性能适中;③亲水性检测结果表明聚二恶烷酮含量越多,支架亲水性越好;④支架降解情况分析显示,对于组织工程纤维环再生修复来说,单纯聚二恶烷酮和聚己内酯/聚二恶烷酮为30/70支架降解过快,聚己内酯组的降解过慢,聚己内酯/聚二恶烷酮为70/30和50/50的支架降解速率较合适;⑤降解组织周围炎症反应分析显示支架中聚己内酯比例越高炎症反应越严重;⑥CCK-8和死活细胞结果显示人脐带间充质干细胞在聚己内酯/聚二恶烷酮三组混合支架具有良好的增殖活性并且存活率高;⑦结果表明,采用熔融纺丝技术制备的聚己内酯/聚二恶烷酮为70/30和50/50两组支架能够模拟天然纤维环结构,同时具备合适可降解性、优越的力学性能和良好生物相容性,适合用于组织工程纤维环支架的构建。 ORCID: 0000-0001-9088-4222(张维昊) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程