Intercellular signaling pathways active during intervertebral disc growth, differentiation, and aging. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • STUDY DESIGN: Intervertebral discs at different postnatal ages were assessed for active intercellular signaling pathways. OBJECTIVE: To generate a spatial and temporal map of the signaling pathways active in the postnatal intervertebral disc (IVD). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The postnatal IVD is a complex structure, consisting of 3 histologically distinct components, the nucleus pulposus, fibrous anulus fibrosus, and endplate. These differentiate and grow during the first 9 weeks of age in the mouse. Identification of the major signaling pathways active during and after the growth and differentiation period will allow functional analysis using mouse genetics and identify targets for therapy for individual components of the disc. METHODS: Antibodies specific for individual cell signaling pathways were used on cryostat sections of IVD at different postnatal ages to identify which components of the IVD were responding to major classes of intercellular signal, including sonic hedgehog, Wnt, TGFbeta, FGF, and BMPs. RESULTS: We present a spatial/temporal map of these signaling pathways during growth, differentiation, and aging of the disc. CONCLUSION: During growth and differentiation of the disc, its different components respond at different times to different intercellular signaling ligands. Most of these are dramatically downregulated at the end of disc growth.

publication date

  • March 1, 2009

Research

keywords

  • Aging
  • Intervertebral Disc
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Signal Transduction

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 65549088017

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181913e98

PubMed ID

  • 19212276

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 34

issue

  • 5