Angiopoietin-like protein 2 induced by mechanical stress accelerates degeneration and hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

ABSTRACT: Chronic inflammation and subsequent fibrosis induced by mechanical stress play an important role in ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy and degeneration in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS). Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) is a chronic inflammatory mediator induced under various pathological conditions and increases the expression of TGF-β1, which is a well-characterized mediator in LF hypertrophy. We investigated whether Angptl2 is induced by mechanical stress, and whether it contributes to LF hypertrophy and degeneration by activating the TGF-β1 signaling cascade. In this study, we investigated human LF tissue and LF fibroblasts isolated from patients who underwent lumbar surgery. We found that Angptl2 was abundantly expressed in fibroblasts of hypertrophied LF tissu

SUBMITTER: Nakamura T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3894965 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature