Sox9 deletion causes severe intervertebral disc degeneration characterized by apoptosis, matrix remodeling, and compartment-specific transcriptomic changes.

ABSTRACT: SOX9 plays an important role in chondrocyte differentiation and, in the developing axial skeleton, maintains the notochord and the demarcation of intervertebral disc compartments. Diminished expression is linked to campomelic dysplasia, resulting in severe scoliosis and progressive disc degeneration. However, the specific functions of SOX9 in the adult spinal column and disc are largely unknown. Accordingly, employing a strategy to conditionally delete Sox9 in Acan-expressing cells (Acan^CreERT2Sox9^fl/fl), we delineated these functions in the adult intervertebral disc. Acan^CreERT2Sox9^fl/fl mice (Sox9^cKO) showed extensive and progressive remodeling of the extracellular matrix in nucleus pulposu

SUBMITTER: Tsingas M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7778523 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature