Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Interleukin 8 and Dexamethasone in the FAK Expression by Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells / 대한정형외과연구학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Human nucleus pulposus cells from intervertebral disc specimens were cultured to study the effects of TNF-alphaand IL-8 on the FAK expression by these cells. The effect of co-stimulation with dexamethasone on the FAK expression by nucleus pulposus cells was also studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The FAK expression in cultured human nucleus pulposus cells relation to TNF-alpha, IL-8 and dexamethasone was assessed by performing western blot. RESULTS: The activated FAK expression was up-regulated by treatments of TNF-alpha and IL-8. Dexamethasone attenuated the cytokine-induced FAK expression. The effects of inflammatory cytokines on the FAK expression were found to be concentration dependent with greater correlation shown by IL-8 than by TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: The FAK expression of human nucleus pulposus cells was up-regulated by TNF-alpha and IL-8 stimulation and it was attenuated by the co-administration of dexamethasone.