A SNP in the 5'UTR of GDF5 is associated with susceptibility to symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the Chinese Han population.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to assess whether the single nucleotide polymorphism in the GDF5 (+104T/C; rs143383) is associated with the symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the Chinese Han population and the identification of the mechanisms of its action. METHODS: This study consisted of 231 patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation as the case group and 370 patients who had a lifetime lack of symptoms as the control group. PCR products were genotyped. Thirty-eight disc specimens derived from the cases were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The stain intensity of immunohistochemistry was quantified using a computerized image analysis system. RESULTS: Significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies were found between case group and control group (TT genotype P < 0.001; CC genotype P = 0.002; T allele P < 0.001). The T allele was more frequent in the case group regardless of gender (Female P = 0.018; Male P < 0.001). Significant differences were found in the genotype frequencies when stratified by gender except the comparison between the CC genotype and other genotypes combined among the female samples (P > 0.05). A semi-quantification of collagen protein in the nucleus pulposus showed that the average collagen protein content in TC group was higher than in TT group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the GDF5 polymorphism is associated with a susceptibility to symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the Chinese Han population and type II collagen in the nucleus pulposus may be a key factor in susceptibility to symptomatic lumbar disc herniation.

Analysis of association between IL-1ß, CASP-9, and GDF5 variants and low-back pain in Chinese male soldier: clinical article.

OBJECT: Recent studies have suggested that genetic risk factors play an important role in the occurrence of low-back pain (LBP) and lumbar disc disease. The authors' study aimed to assess the association between 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to LBP related to military training. METHODS: In this case-control study, data from 892 Chinese male soldiers were retrospectively reviewed. The case group was made up of 305 soldiers with LBP related to military training and a control group of 587 soldiers without constant LBP for more than 2 weeks. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of all subjects and polymerase chain reaction products were genotyped. RESULTS: No association was found between the SNP of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß; +3954C/T) and LBP at both the genotypic (p = 0.104) and the allelic (p = 0.098) level. However, the G allele of caspase-9 (CASP-9) and the T allele of growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) were more common in patients with LBP than in patients without LBP (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings in a Chinese military cohort indicated that CASP-9 (-1263A/G) and GDF5 (+104T/C) polymorphisms are associated with a susceptibility to LBP related to military training.

Effects of different cross-linking conditions on the properties of genipin-cross-linked chitosan/collagen scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

A cross-linking reagent is required to improve mechanical strength and degradation properties of biopolymers for tissue engineering. To find the optimal preparative method, we prepared diverse genipin-cross-linked chitosan/collagen scaffolds using different genipin concentrations and various cross-linking temperatures and cross-linking times. The compressive strength increased with the increasing of genipin concentration from 0.1 to 1.0%, but when concentration exceeded 1.0%, the compressive strength decreased. Similarly, the compressive strength increased with the increasing of temperature from 4 to 20°C, but when temperature reached 37°C, the compressive strength decreased. Showing a different trend from the above two factors, the effect of cross-linking time on the compressive strength had a single increasing tendency. The other results also demonstrated that the pore size, degradation rate and swelling ratio changed significantly with different cross-linking conditions. Based on our study, 1.0% genipin concentration, 20°C cross-linking temperature and longer cross-linking time are recommended.