骨桥蛋白及其受体在黄韧带骨化症黄韧带细胞中的表达及其意义

Expression and role of osteopontin and its receptors in ligmentum flavum cells derived from patients with ossification of ligamentum flavum

BACKGROUND: The exact pathogenesis of ossification of ligamentum flavum has not been elucidated yet. And osteopontin may be an important factor involved in the ossification of ligamentum flavum. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the expression and significance of osteopontin and its receptors, CD44 and integrin-β3, in ligamentum flavum cells between normal controls and patients with ossification of ligamentum flavum.   METHODS: Ligamentum flavum tissues were obtained from normal adult controls and adult patients with ossification of ligamentum flavum (n=8 per group) who underwent thoracic/lumbar posterior decompression surgery. Ligmentum flavum cells were separated, cultured and identified in vitro, and osteopontin, CD44, integrin-β3 were stained using immunocytochemistry method and observed under inverted phase contrast microscope. And the mRNA expressions of osteopontin, CD44, integrin-β3 were measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Immunocytochemistry results showed that the stronger positive staining for osteopontin, CD44, integrin-β3 was observed in the ossification of ligamentum flavum group than the control group (P < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of osteopontin, CD44 and integrin-β3 were also higher in the ossification of ligamentum flavum group than the control group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that osteopontin and its receptors, CD44 and integrin-β3, in ligamentum flavum cells may play an important role in ossification of ligamentum flavum.