Hypotonicity differentially affects inflammatory marker production by nucleus pulposus tissue in simulated disc degeneration versus herniation.

ABSTRACT: Inflammatory cytokines play an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration. Although largely produced by immune cells, nucleus pulposus (NP) cells can also secrete them under various conditions, for example, under free swelling. Thus, tissue hypotonicity may be an inflammatory trigger for NP cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether decreased tonicity under restricted swelling conditions (as occurring in early disc degeneration) could initiate an inflammatory cascade that mediates further degeneration. Healthy bovine NP tissue was balanced against different PEG concentrations (0-30%) to obtain various tissue tonicities. Samples were then placed in an artificial annulus (fixed volume) and were cultured for 3, 7, or 21 days, with free swelling NP as control. Tissue conte

SUBMITTER: Mouser VHM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6593810 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature