Serum CXCL12/SDF-1 level is positively related with lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and clinical severity

Abstract

<jats:p> This study aimed to examine whether stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) or C-X-C chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) participates in the development of lumbar disc degeneration, as implicated earlier by the level of CXCL12 correlating with this disease. It enrolled 145 patients with symptomatic lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and 130 asymptomatic healthy controls with no indication of IDD. Radiological assessment of the IDD patients was targeted at the lumbar vertebra region, based on Pfirrmann grade. Degeneration of the multifidus and psoas major muscles was evaluated using Goutallier classification. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were obtained for assessing the severity of manifestation. The levels of serum CXCL12, IL-6 and TNF-α were determined by ROC curve analysis, resulting in their prognostic value for Pfirrmann grading. Higher levels of serum CXCL12 were found in patients with IDD than in asymptomatic individuals, and were positively related to the Pfirrmann grade as well as multifidus muscle degeneration. Furthermore, serum CXCL12 concentration showed a significant correlation with the VAS and ODI scores. In addition, elevated serum CXCL12 levels were related to serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6. The ROC curve analysis implicated that CXCL12 could function as a biomarker of the early-mediate phase of IDD development. In summary, the serum CXCL12/SDF-1 level is positively related with lumbar IDD and its clinical severity. </jats:p>

Conditional Deletion of HIF-2α in Mouse Nucleus Pulposus Reduces Fibrosis and Provides Mild and Transient Protection From Age-Dependent Structural Changes in Intervertebral Disc

“…FTIR and analysis was done as described previously. ( 48,49 ) Deparaffinized sections (7 μm) of decalcified mouse lumbar disc tissues were collected from control and mutant animals at the 6‐month ( n = 6 mice/genotype, 1 disc/mouse, 6 total discs/genotype) and 14‐month ( n = 6 mice/genotype, 2 disc/mouse, 12 total discs/genotype) time points and used to acquire FTIR spectral imaging data using methods previously described. Spatial resolution images were acquired on the Spectrum Spotlight 400 FT‐IR Imaging system in the mid‐IR region from 4000 to 800 cm −1 (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA).…”

Telomere Shortening and Increased Oxidative Stress in Lumbar Disc Degeneration

“…The blood leukocyte RTL was significantly lower in LDD subjects than in unaffected controls ( p = 0.04), as displayed in Figure 1 A. Subsequently, the LDD patients were categorized into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe groups based on the radiographic severity [ 16 ]. The RTLs in the blood leukocytes of patients in the mild (n = 21), moderate (n = 18), and severe groups (n = 6) were 0.58 (0.34–0.69), 0.29 (0.22–0.57), and 0.25 (0.15–0.52), respectively ( Figure 1 B).…”

Long Non-Coding RNAs H19 and HOTAIR Implicated in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

“…CXCL12 encodes C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12, a stromal cell-derived alpha chemokine member of the intercrine family. Previously published articles have demonstrated that CXCL12 is implicated in IDD ( Er et al, 2020 ; Zhong et al, 2021 ). Serum CXCL12 level is positively related to lumbar IDD and its clinical severity ( Er et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Previously published articles have demonstrated that CXCL12 is implicated in IDD ( Er et al, 2020 ; Zhong et al, 2021 ). Serum CXCL12 level is positively related to lumbar IDD and its clinical severity ( Er et al, 2020 ). The miR-623/CXCL12 axis inhibits LPS-induced nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and senescence ( Zhong et al, 2021 ).…”