人退变腰椎间盘中细胞凋亡与Bax及半胱胺酸蛋白酶蛋白3基因的表达

目的 检测人腰椎间盘组织中的细胞密度、细胞凋亡率以及Bax和半胱氨酸蛋白酶蛋白3(Caspase-3)的表达,为深入了解人腰椎间盘退变的机制提供实验依据,并为将来通过生物学方法 延缓腰椎间盘退变提供新的思路.方法 实验组30个椎间盘标本(L2～S1)来自27例行后路腰椎间盘切除椎间融合手术自愿捐赠的患者,男18例,女9例;年龄30～72岁,平均51.09岁.所有病变节段均经MRI证实,患者术前均未接受椎间盘造影、胶原酶髓核溶解或椎间盘激光汽化术.对照组20个标本(L2～S1)来自5例青年男性意外死亡者新鲜尸检腰椎间盘;年龄24～37岁,平均30.83岁.采用HE染色观察凋亡软骨细胞、凋亡小体和细胞密度,TUNEL染色法检测人腰椎间盘中的凋亡细胞率,用SP免疫组织化学法检测Bax及Caspase-3表达,图像分析Bax及Caspase-3的平均灰度值.结果 HE染色示对照组、实验组软骨终板和髓核内的平均细胞密度分别为(17.16±1.22)、(12.41±0.95)个/HP,二者差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).TUNEL染色观察示对照组的软骨终板与髓核内的平均凋亡细胞率为6.97%±0.92%,低于实验组的12.59±0.95%(P＜0.01).SP免疫组织化学染色示对照组髓核内Bax、Caspase-3染色阳性细胞率分别为11.02%4±1.18%和9.01%±1.00%,均低于实验组的19.29%±1.18%和15.07%±0.97%,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01).对照组腰椎间盘髓核内Bax、Caspase-3的平均灰度值分别为187.33±7.88和185.68±3.26,实验组分别为124.98±6.69和160.13±4.37,两组间比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).将全部腰椎间盘标本进行Pearson相关分析,对照组和实验组腰椎间盘凋亡细胞率与细胞密度间成负相关,相关系数r分别为-0.88和-0.93(P＜0.01)两组髓核内Bax、Caspase-3阳性细胞率与凋亡细胞率之间成正相关,相关系数r分别为0.83和0.91(P＜0.01).结论 细胞密度下降参与了人腰椎间盘的退变过程,Bax和Caspase-3的表达上调在人腰椎间盘髓核细胞的凋亡过程中有一定作用.

EXPRESSION OF BAX AND CASPASE-3 AND APOPTOSIS IN HUMAN LUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DEGENERATION

OBJECTIVE: To detect the cell density, apoptotic incidence and the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 in human lumbar intervertebral discs, so as to further understand the mechanism of human lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and provide a new idea for biologic treatment of it in future. METHODS: From May to December in 2006, 30 human lumbar intervertebral discs in experimental group (L2 to S1) were surgically collected from 27 patients undergoing posterior lumbar intervertebral discoidectomy and fusion. All the cases were affirmed by MRI and they never experienced discography, collagenolysis of nucleus pulposus and percutaneous laser disc decompression. The control group consisted of 20 human lumbar intervertebral discs (L2 to S1) harvested from 5 young men without spine-related condition immediately after their accidental death. Apoptotic disc cells were detected by TUNEL and histomorphology, and immunohistochemical staining with SP method was performed to examine the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 in all specimens. RESULTS: HE staining disclosed that the average cell density in control group (17.16 +/- 1.22)/HP was higher than that in experimental group (12.41 +/- 0.95)/HP (P < 0.01). However, TUNEL staining observed that the average TUNEL positive incidence in control group (6.97% +/- 0.92%) was lower than that in experimental group (12.59% +/- 0.95%), (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining with SP method showed that the Bax and Caspase-3 positive incidence of nucleus pulposus in control group (11.02% +/- 1.18%, 9.01% +/- 1.00%) were lower than those in experimental group (19.29% +/- 1.18%, 15.07% +/- 0.97%), (P < 0.01). The results of the average gray scale value of nucleus pulposus in control group were 187.33 +/- 7.88 and 185.68 +/- 3.26, respectively, with 124.98 +/- 6.69 and 160.13 +/- 4.37 in experimental group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). When the total 50 specimens in the two groups were analyzed, TUNEL positive incidence showed significant inverse correlations with their respectively corresponding cell densities (r = - 0.88, r = - 0.93, P < 0.01). The Bax and Caspase-3 positive incidence of nucleus pulposus showed significant positive correlation with the TUNEL positive incidence of nucleus pulposus (r = 0.83, r = 0.91, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The decrease of cell density is involved in the development of human lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Bax and Caspase-3 might play a role in disc cell apoptosis in nucleus pulposus of human lumbar intervertebral disc.