Chondrocyte-like nested cells in the aged intervertebral disc are late-stage nucleus pulposus cells.

ABSTRACT: Aging is a major risk factor of intervertebral disc degeneration and a leading cause of back pain. Pathological changes associated with disc degeneration include the absence of large, vacuolated and reticular-shaped nucleus pulposus cells, and appearance of smaller cells nested in lacunae. These small nested cells are conventionally described as chondrocyte-like cells; however, their origin in the intervertebral disc is unknown. Here, using a genetic mouse model and a fate mapping strategy, we have found that the chondrocyte-like cells in degenerating intervertebral discs are, in fact, nucleus pulposus cells. With aging, the nucleus pulposus cells fuse their cell membranes to form the nested lacunae. Next, we characterized the expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH), crucial for the maintenance

SUBMITTER: Mohanty S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6718620 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature