Serum and tissue levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and its tissue inhibitor in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Matrix metaloproteinases are now generaly considered to be able to degrade al extracelular matrices. Hypersecretion of matrix metaloproteinases or reduction in tissue inhibitors of matrix metaloproteinases leads to destruction of the dynamic balance of extracelular matrix. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of matrix metaloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metaloproteinase-1 in the pathogenesis and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS:A total of 60 patients with intervertebral disc degeneration were included. Mild, moderate, and severe degeneration signals appeared on MRI imaging of the patients. Meanwhile, 20 patients with vertebral fracture, mainly cervical spine fracture, were selected as the control group. Venous blood samples were colected before the surgery; the intervertebral disc specimens were sequentialy colected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Serum and tissue levels of matrix metaloproteinase-1 in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration were significantly increased compared with the control group (P 0.05). These results indicate that hypersecretion of matrix metaloproteinase-1 occurs in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration; however, the expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metaloproteinase-1 is not correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration.