Association of the asporin D14 allele with lumbar-disc degeneration in Asians

ASPORIN: A root of the matter in tumors and their host environment

Asporin (ASPN) has been identified as one of the members of the class I small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) family in the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is involved in classic ensigns of cancers such as self-dependent growth, resistance to growth inhibitors, restricting apoptosis, cancer metastasis, and bone-related disorders. ASPN is different from other members of SLRPs, such as decorin (DCN) and biglycan (BGN), in a way that it contains a distinctive length of aspartate (D) residues in the amino (N) -terminal region. These D-repeats residues possess germline polymorphisms and are identified to be linked with cancer progression and osteoarthritis (OA). The polyaspartate stretch in the N-terminal region of the protein and its resemblance to DCN are the reasons it is called asporin. In this review, we comprehensively summarized and updated the dual role of ASPN in various malignancies, its structure in mice and humans, variants, mutations, cancer-associated signalings and functions, the relationship between ASPN and cancer-epithelial, stromal fibroblast crosstalk, immune cells and immunosuppression in cancer and other diseases. In cancer and other bone-related diseases, ASPN is identified to be regulating various signaling pathways such as TGFβ, Wnt/β-catenin, notch, hedgehog, EGFR, HER2, and CD44-mediated Rac1. These pathways promote cancer cell invasion, proliferation, and migration by mediating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Finally, we discussed mouse models mimicking ASPN in vivo function in cancers and the probability of therapeutic targeting of ASPN in cancer cells, fibrosis, and other bone-related diseases.

A common variant rs2054564 in ADAMST17 is associated with susceptibility to lumbar spondylosis

The molecular pathophysiology underlying lumbar spondylosis development remains unclear. To identify genetic factors associated with lumbar spondylosis, we conducted a genome-wide association study using 83 severe lumbar spondylosis cases and 182 healthy controls and identified 65 candidate disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Replication analysis in 510 case and 911 control subjects from five independent Japanese cohorts identified rs2054564, located in intron 7 of ADAMTS17, as a disease-associated SNP with a genome-wide significance threshold (P = 1.17 × 10-11, odds ratio = 1.92). This association was significant even after adjustment of age, sex, and body mass index (P = 7.52 × 10-11). A replication study in a Korean cohort, including 123 case and 319 control subjects, also verified the significant association of this SNP with severe lumbar spondylosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed that fibrillin-1 (FBN1) and ADAMTS17 were co-expressed in the annulus fibrosus of intervertebral discs (IVDs). ADAMTS17 overexpression in MG63 cells promoted extracellular microfibrils biogenesis, suggesting the potential role of ADAMTS17 in IVD function through interaction with fibrillin fibers. Finally, we provided evidence of FBN1 involvement in IVD function by showing that lumbar IVDs in patients with Marfan syndrome, caused by heterozygous FBN1 gene mutation, were significantly more degenerated. We identified a common SNP variant, located in ADAMTS17, associated with susceptibility to lumbar spondylosis and demonstrated the potential role of the ADAMTS17-fibrillin network in IVDs in lumbar spondylosis development.

Macrophages and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

The intervertebral disc (IVD) aids in motion and acts to absorb energy transmitted to the spine. With little inherent regenerative capacity, degeneration of the intervertebral disc results in intervertebral disc disease, which contributes to low back pain and significant disability in many individuals. Increasing evidence suggests that IVD degeneration is a disease of the whole joint that is associated with significant inflammation. Moreover, studies show elevated macrophage accumulation within the IVD with increasing levels of disease severity; however, we still need to understand the roles, be they causative or consequential, of macrophages during the degenerative process. In this narrative review, we discuss hallmarks of IVD degeneration, showcase evidence of macrophage involvement during disc degeneration, and explore burgeoning research aimed at understanding the molecular pathways regulating macrophage functions during intervertebral disc degeneration.

Relationship between asporin and extracellular matrix behavior: A literature review

Asporin (ASPN), as a member of the small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan family, is a type of protein that is found in the extracellular matrix. Collagen deposition or transformation is involved in a variety of pathological processes. ASPN is identified in cancerous tissue, pathological cardiac tissue, articular cartilage, keloid, and fibrotic lung tissue, and it has a role in the development of cancer, cardiovascular, bone and joint, keloid, and pulmonary fibrosis by interfering with collagen metabolism. This review article summarizes the data on ASPN expressions in mouse and human and highlights that overexpress of ASPN might play a role in a variety of diseases. Although our knowledge of ASPN is currently limited, these instances may help us better understand how it interacts with diseases.

Proteomic comparison between physiological degeneration and needle puncture model of disc generation disease

BACKGROUND

The completeness of the intervertebral disc proteome is fundamental to the integrity and functionality of the intervertebral disc.

METHODS

The 20 experimental rats were placed into two groups randomly, normal group (NG) and acupuncture pathological degeneration group-2 weeks (APDG-2w). The ten 24-month-old rats were grouped into physiological degeneration group (PDG). Magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray examination, histological staining (hematoxylin & eosin, safranin-O cartilage, and alcian blue staining), and immunohistochemical examination were carried out for assessing the degree of disc degradation. Intervertebral disc was collected, and protein composition was determined by LC- MS, followed by bioinformatic analysis including significance analysis, subcellular localization prediction, protein domain prediction, GO function and KEGG pathway analysis, and protein interaction network construction. LC-PRM was done for protein quantification.

RESULTS

Physiological degeneration and especially needle puncture decreased T2 signal intensity and intervertebral disc height. Results from hematoxylin & eosin, safranin-O, and alcian blue staining revealed that the annulus fibrosus apparently showed the wavy and collapsed fibrocartilage lamellas in APDG-2w and PDG groups. The contents of the nucleus pulposus were decreased in physiological degeneration group and APDG-2w group compared with NG. Results from immunohistochemical analysis suggested the degeneration of intervertebral disc and inflammation in APDG-2w and PDG groups. The protein composition and expression between needle puncture rat models and the physiological degeneration group showed significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies produced point-reference datasets of normal rats, physiological degeneration rats, and needle puncture rat models, which is beneficial to subsequent pathological studies. There is differential expression of protein expression in degenerative discs with aging and acupuncture, which may be used as a potential discriminating index for different intervertebral degenerations.

Prevalence and risk factors analysis for low back pain among occupational groups in key industries of China

BACKGROUND

With the acceleration of industrialization and population aging, low back pain (LBP) has become the leading cause of life loss years caused by disability. Thus, it places a huge economic burden on society and is a global public health problem that needs urgent solution. This study aimed to conduct an epidemiological investigation and research on a large sample of workers in key industries in different regions of China, determine the incidence and distribution characteristics of LBP, explore the epidemic law, and provide a reference basis for alleviating global public health problems caused by LBP.

METHODS

We adopted a modified epidemiological cross-sectional survey method and a stratified cluster sampling method. All on-duty workers who fulfill the inclusion criteria are taken as the research participants from the representative enterprises in key industries across seven regions: north, east, central, south, southwest, northwest, and northeast China. The Chinese version of the musculoskeletal disease questionnaire, modified by a standardized Nordic questionnaire, was used to collect information, and 57,501 valid questionnaires were received. Descriptive statistics were used, and multivariate logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05) was performed to explore the association between musculoskeletal disorders and potential risk factors.

RESULTS

LBP annual incidence among workers in China's key industries is 16.4%. There was a significant difference in LBP incidence among occupational groups across different industries (p < 0.05). The multivariate regression model showed the following as risk factors for LBP: frequent repetitive movements with the trunk, working in the same positions at a high pace, trunk position, frequently turning around with your trunk, often working overtime, lifting heavy loads (i.e., more than 20 kg), education level, staff shortage, working age (years), cigarette smoking, use of vibration tools at work, body mass index, lifting heavy loads (i.e., more than 5 kg), and age (years). Physical exercise, often standing at work, and absolute resting time were protective factors.

CONCLUSION

LBP incidence among key industries and workers in China is high. Thus, it is urgent to take relevant measures according to the individual, occupational, and psychosocial factors of LBP to reduce the adverse impact of LBP on workers' health.

Immuno-Modulatory Effects of Intervertebral Disc Cells

Low back pain is a highly prevalent, chronic, and costly medical condition predominantly triggered by intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). IDD is often caused by structural and biochemical changes in intervertebral discs (IVD) that prompt a pathologic shift from an anabolic to catabolic state, affecting extracellular matrix (ECM) production, enzyme generation, cytokine and chemokine production, neurotrophic and angiogenic factor production. The IVD is an immune-privileged organ. However, during degeneration immune cells and inflammatory factors can infiltrate through defects in the cartilage endplate and annulus fibrosus fissures, further accelerating the catabolic environment. Remarkably, though, catabolic ECM disruption also occurs in the absence of immune cell infiltration, largely due to native disc cell production of catabolic enzymes and cytokines. An unbalanced metabolism could be induced by many different factors, including a harsh microenvironment, biomechanical cues, genetics, and infection. The complex, multifactorial nature of IDD brings the challenge of identifying key factors which initiate the degenerative cascade, eventually leading to back pain. These factors are often investigated through methods including animal models, 3D cell culture, bioreactors, and computational models. However, the crosstalk between the IVD, immune system, and shifted metabolism is frequently misconstrued, often with the assumption that the presence of cytokines and chemokines is synonymous to inflammation or an immune response, which is not true for the intact disc. Therefore, this review will tackle immunomodulatory and IVD cell roles in IDD, clarifying the differences between cellular involvements and implications for therapeutic development and assessing models used to explore inflammatory or catabolic IVD environments.

Asporin levels in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders

BACKGROUND

Understanding the pathogenesis of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is important for diagnosis and treatment planning. Thus, biochemical analysis is usually used for the detection of tissue damage.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to investigate the serum asporin levels in patients with TMD.

METHODS

Our study was planned to be performed on 43 healthy individuals (control group) without any joint problems and 43 patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement (TMJ-ID; patients group) according to the Wilkes classification (stages 3, 4 and 5). Serum asporin levels were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and compared between groups. Asporin levels were analysed according to the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, and the differences between them were demonstrated.

RESULTS

Asporin levels were found to be significantly increased in the patients group compared to control group (p = .0303). The age and gender distributions of the samples in the control and patients groups were homogeneous, and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. In addition, while there was no significant change in asporin levels in females in the patients group compared with the control group, the asporin levels were significantly increased in males in the patients group (p = .0403).

CONCLUSIONS

Consequently, asporin seems to be an important biomarker in the pathobiology of TMJ-ID as it is significantly upregulated in these patients.

Intervertebral Disk Degeneration: The Microenvironment and Tissue Engineering Strategies

Intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of disability. The degeneration is inevitable, and the mechanisms are complex. Current therapeutic strategies mainly focus on the relief of symptoms, not the intrinsic regeneration of the intervertebral disk (IVD). Tissue engineering is a promising strategy for IVDD due to its ability to restore a healthy microenvironment and promote IVD regeneration. This review briefly summarizes the IVD anatomy and composition and then sets out elements of the microenvironment and the interactions. We rationalized different scaffolds based on tissue engineering strategies used recently. To fulfill the complete restoration of a healthy IVD microenvironment, we propose that various tissue engineering strategies should be combined and customized to create personalized therapeutic strategies for each individual.

Genetic Predictors of Early-Onset Spinal Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Part Two of Two

Understanding genetic indicators is a fundamental aspect to characterizing the pathophysiology of chronic diseases such as intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). In our previous spinal genetics review, we characterized some more common genetic influencers in the context of IVDD. In this second part of our two-part comprehensive spinal genetics review, we characterize the more infrequently studied genes that have pathophysiological relevance. In doing so, we aim to expand upon the current gene-library for IVDD. The genes of interest include: asporin, cartilage intermediate layer protein, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, matrix metallopeptidase 9, and thrombospondin 2. Findings show that these genetic indicators have trends and polymorphisms that may have causal associations with the manifestation of IVDD. However, there is a narrow selection of studies that use genetic indicators to describe correlations to the severity and longevity of the pathology. Nevertheless, with the continued identification of risk genes involved with IVDD, the possibilities for refined models of gene therapies can be established for future treatment trials.

Frequency of Growth Differentiation Factor 5 rs143383 and asporin D-repeat polymorphisms in patients with hand and knee osteoarthritis in Kurdistan province, Iran

AIM

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint disorder, resulting from the breakdown of joint cartilage. It occurs in the knees, hands, and hips, leading to pain, stiffness, inflammation, and swelling.

METHODS

In this study, 100 hand and knee OA patients, meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria were included in the case group, and 100 healthy individuals were allocated to the control group. Blood samples were collected from the participants. After DNA extraction, genotyping was carried out for GDF5 rs143383 C/T polymorphism by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) and for D-repeat alleles of asporin (ASPN) by conventional PCR assay.

RESULTS

The results showed that the frequency of the D14 allele of ASPN was significantly higher than other alleles in the case group (P = .0001). Also, the frequency of the D14 allele among women was significantly higher than in men (P = .004). Moreover, the frequency of the TT allele in GDF5 rs143383 C/T polymorphism was significantly higher than the CC and CT alleles in the case group, compared with the control group (P = .001). A significant difference was found between the TT allele and other alleles in female and male patients compared with the control group (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

The D14 allele of the ASPN gene and TT allele of the GDF5 gene (rs143383 + 104T/C) are associated with hand and knee OA in the Kurdish population, indicating that these alleles could be risk factors for OA, at least in our populations.

Uncovering molecular targets for regenerative therapy in degenerative disc disease: do small leucine-rich proteoglycans hold the key?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) play an essential role in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization and function. Recently, dysregulation of SLRPs has been implicated in degenerative disc disease (DDD). An in-depth analysis using high-throughput proteomic sequencing might provide valuable information on their implications in health and disease.

PURPOSE

To utilize proteomics for analyzing the expression of SLRPs in fetal, healthy adult, and degenerated discs, to identify possible molecular targets to halt or reverse the degenerative process.

STUDY DESIGN

Experimental analysis.

METHODS

Proteomic signatures of 8 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) normal lumbar discs (ND) [harvested from brain dead alive organ donors] were compared to 8 fetal disc samples (FD) [harvested from fetal spines devoid of congenital anomalies following spontaneous or medical termination of pregnancy] and 8 degenerate discs (DD) [collected from patients undergoing fusion surgery]. The various functional pathways along with the differential expression of SLRPs and the associated changes in collagens, large proteoglycans (LLRPs), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) have been analyzed further using bioinformatics. This project was self-funded by the Ganga Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation.

RESULTS

ESI-LC-MS/MS analysis revealed a total of 1,029 proteins in FD, 1,785 proteins in ND, and 1,775 proteins in DD. Fetal disc proteins were engaged mainly in ribosomal pathways (indicating active proliferation and regenerative potential). The healthy adult discs (ND) primarily participated in ECM maintenance and basic metabolic pathways, whereas the unique proteins of DD group were involved in inflammatory (Complement and coagulation cascades, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Leukocyte transendothelial migration) pathways and infective (Staphylococcus aureus infection, Prion diseases, Amoebiasis, Pertussis, and Legionellosis) channels which favor the recent concepts of inflammaging and subclinical infection as causes of DDD. Analysis of SLRPs revealed the upregulation of Biglycan in FDs and downregulation of Lumican, Decorin, Prolargin, and Chondroadherin in the DD group. The universal decrease in the abundance of SLRPs in the DD group was associated with an increase in MMPs and a reduction in TIMPs, collagen and LLRP content.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study documents the influence of SLRPs in the maintenance of disc health and also the need for future research in using them for disc regeneration.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The various SLRPs that we identified are all known to have a beneficial influence on ECM integrity and a negative effect on the degenerative process at different stages in the evolution of degeneration. Biglycan, which is abundantly present in a fetus, may be suitable for regenerative therapy, and the other SLRPs like Lumican, Prolargin, Decorin, and Chondroadherin may serve the same purpose and/or as biomarkers.

DIPPER, a spatiotemporal proteomics atlas of human intervertebral discs for exploring ageing and degeneration dynamics

The spatiotemporal proteome of the intervertebral disc (IVD) underpins its integrity and function. We present DIPPER, a deep and comprehensive IVD proteomic resource comprising 94 genome-wide profiles from 17 individuals. To begin with, protein modules defining key directional trends spanning the lateral and anteroposterior axes were derived from high-resolution spatial proteomes of intact young cadaveric lumbar IVDs. They revealed novel region-specific profiles of regulatory activities and displayed potential paths of deconstruction in the level- and location-matched aged cadaveric discs. Machine learning methods predicted a ‘hydration matrisome’ that connects extracellular matrix with MRI intensity. Importantly, the static proteome used as point-references can be integrated with dynamic proteome (SILAC/degradome) and transcriptome data from multiple clinical samples, enhancing robustness and clinical relevance. The data, findings, and methodology, available on a web interface (http://www.sbms.hku.hk/dclab/DIPPER/), will be valuable references in the field of IVD biology and proteomic analytics.

The backbone of vertebrate animals consists of a series of bones called vertebrae that are joined together by disc-like structures that allow the back to move and distribute forces to protect it during daily activities. It is common for these intervertebral discs to degenerate with age, resulting in back pain and severely reducing quality of life.

The mechanical features of intervertebral discs are the result of their proteins. These include extracellular matrix proteins, which form the external scaffolding that binds cells together in a tissue, and signaling proteins, which allow cells to communicate. However, how the levels of different proteins in each region of the disc vary with time has not been fully examined.

To establish how protein composition changes with age, Tam, Chen et al. quantified the protein levels and gene activity (which leads to protein production) of intervertebral discs from young and old deceased individuals. They found that the position of different mixtures of proteins in the intervertebral disc changes with age, and that young people have high levels of extracellular matrix proteins and signaling proteins. Levels of these proteins decreased as people got older, as did the amount of proteins produced.

To determine which region of the intervertebral disc different proteins were in, Tam, Chen et al. also performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the samples to correlate image intensity (which represents water content) with the corresponding protein signature. The data obtained provides a high-quality map of how the location of different proteins changes with age, and is available online under the name DIPPER. This database is an informative resource for research into skeletal biology, and it will likely advance the understanding of intervertebral disc degeneration in humans and animals, potentially leading to the development of new treatment strategies for this condition.

Apigenin Mitigates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration through the Amelioration of Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) Signaling Pathway

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common spinal disease affected by environmental and lifestyle factors that has a significant pathological cascade toward inflammation and partial disability. There is currently no therapy that can completely restore the cellular derangement in IDD. Hence, in this study, the therapeutic effects of apigenin on IDD were evaluated using a rat model.

Material/Methods

Animals were separated into 4 groups: Grp 1, sham-operated control; Grp 2, IDD-induced; Grp 3, IDD-induced+apigenin treatment; Grp 4, apigenin control. The animals were assessed for inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and prostaglandin signaling.

Results

There were significant increases in the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17 in the IDD-induced group compared to that of control. Moreover, with increased levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, ADAMTS-4, and syndecan-4, the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, prostaglandin E2, and cyclooxygenase 2 were directly increased in the IDD-induced group. In contrast, apigenin protectively restored levels of prostaglandin signaling and reduced cytokine levels. In addition, nucleus pulposus cells cultured separately with either TNF-α inhibitor or apigenin significantly attenuated the levels of extracellular matrix proteins.

Conclusions

The reduction of cytokine levels under apigenin treatment suggests it may be a promising target drug therapy for the treatment of deleterious IDD conditions.

Osteoarthritis: Prognosis and emerging therapeutic approach for disease management

Osteoarthritis (OA), a disorder of joints, is prevalent in older age. The contemporary cure for OA is aimed to confer symptomatic relief, consisting of temporary pain and swelling relief. In this paper, we discuss various modalities responsible for the onset of OA and associated with its severity. Inhibition of chondrocytes receptors such as DDR2, SDF-1, Asporin, and CXCR4 by specific pharmacological inhibitors attenuates OA, a critical step for finding potential disease modifying drugs. We critically analyzed recent OA studies with an emphasis on intermediate target molecules for OA intervention. We also explored some novel and safe treatments for OA by considering disease prognosis crosstalk with cellular signaling pathways.

Identifying the role of ASPN and COMP genes in knee osteoarthritis development

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of musculoskeletal disability among elders and is characterized by late-onset degeneration of articular cartilage. OA affects various joints, commonly hand, knee, and hip, with clinical features that are unique to each joint. This study was initiated to identify and evaluate the role of the ASPN and COMP genes in the development of knee OA.

Methods

A case–control study was carried out involving 500 cases with knee OA (diagnosed by the American College of Rheumatology) and an equal number of healthy controls. Blood was drawn for genomic DNA isolation. PCR-RFLP and TaqMan assay methods were used to identify the SNPs. mRNA and protein expression of genes were carried out in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) by RT-PCR and Western immunoblotting. The data obtained were analyzed for the statistical significance between control and case groups.

Results

The variant genotype of ASPN and COMP genes was found to be present at a relatively higher frequency in cases than controls. RT-PCR and immunochemical studies revealed increased mRNA and protein expression of such gene in PBLs isolated from cases of knee OA as compared to healthy control.

Conclusion

The allelic alteration in ASPN and COMP genes in knee OA cases points to the role of these genes in the development of knee OA. Further, increased mRNA and protein expression of ASPN and COMP in peripheral blood samples of patients with the disease suggest that expression profile of candidate gene could be used as a biomarker for predicting the development and progression of knee OA.

HtrA1 upregulates the expression of ADAMTS-5 in HNPCs via the ERK/NF-κB/JNK signaling pathway

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a form of chronic inflammation and is one of the most common disorders reported to be involved in low back pain (LBP). The pathophysiology of degeneration is not completely understood, but the consensus is that the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the disc is the leading factor contributing to IDD. High temperature requirement A1 (HtrA1) is serine protease that has been shown to be increased in degenerated intervertebral discs as a result of an increase in the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), but no study has focused on the effect of HtrA1 on a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs). In the present study, we successfully isolated human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) from IDD patients who were our research subjects to elaborate on the potential role of HtrA1 in the pathogenesis of IDD. We confirmed that HtrA1 has the potential to induce the expression of ADAMTS-5 in a dose-dependent manner. Consistently, this was mediated by the ERK, NF-κB and JNK pathways. By using inhibitors of these pathways, the increase in ADAMTS-5 could be reduced. Our findings indicated that HtrA1 can induce the expression of ADAMTS-5 in HNPCs via the ERK/NF-κB/JNK signaling pathway, and our study also elucidated the involved induction mechanisms in HNPCs, which may provide new insights for the treatment of IDD.

A common polymorphism of COMT was associated with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation based on a large sample with Chinese Han ancestry

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common spine disease characterized by a tear in the disc ring and bulges out at the soft portion. COMT is a protein coding gene located at 22q11.21, and its gene product is a major mammalian enzyme involved in the degradation of catecholamines. A total of 2,678 study subjects with Chinese Han ancestry were recruited and 15 SNPs were selected for genotyping in our study subjects. A synonymous coding SNP, rs4633, was identified to be significantly associated with the disease status of LDH after adjusting for BMI (OR = 0.76, P = 4.83 × 10⁻⁵). This SNP was also identified to be significantly associated with COMT gene expression in three types of human tissues. Minor alleles of rs4633 (T) increased the expression of COMT in these 3 tissues. We have identified a significant SNP of COMT, rs4633, which is associated with symptomatic LDH in a large Chinese Han-based sample of the study subjects. This significant finding is further replicated by haplotypic analysis. Evidence from bioinformatics analyses have shown that rs4633 is also significantly associated with the gene expression of COMT. Our findings provide additional supportive evidence for an important role of COMT gene in the symptomatic LDH susceptibility.

Fat Mass and Obesity-Associated (FTO) Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Risk of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Chinese Han Population: A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to evaluate whether the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphisms are associated with risk of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) in a largest Chinese Han population. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 502 IDD patients and 497 healthy controls enrolled in this study. Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FTO gene were tested using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test, followed by allelic, genotypic, haplotypic association, and SNP interaction analyses were used for SNP evaluation. The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database was used to evaluate expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) value of polymorphism. Spearman rank correlation and logistic regression analyses were used for assessing the internal relation between genotypic changes and the risk of IDD. RESULTS Seventeen SNPs survived the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test. Allelic analysis showed that allele T of SNP rs1121980 was a risk allele. Haplotypic and SNP interaction analyses suggested that 2 haplotypes and 5 SNP combinations were associated with the predisposition of IDD respectively. GTEx database revealed that the SNP rs1121980 might interfere with the expression of the FTO gene in the muscle-skeletal system. Through clinical statistics analysis, the different genotypes of rs1121980 can present different disease severity of IDD. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that rs1121980 can become a biomarker for the screening and prognosis of IDD. The 2 haplotype blocks and 5 SNP-SNP combinations that we discovered might be indicative of the onset of IDD. Therefore, our study might serve as evidence for future IDD molecular diagnosis.

Trans-Ethnic Polygenic Analysis Supports Genetic Overlaps of Lumbar Disc Degeneration With Height, Body Mass Index, and Bone Mineral Density

Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is age-related break-down in the fibrocartilaginous joints between lumbar vertebrae. It is a major cause of low back pain and is conventionally assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Like most other complex traits, LDD is likely polygenic and influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. However, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of LDD have uncovered few susceptibility loci due to the limited sample size. Previous epidemiology studies of LDD also reported multiple heritable risk factors, including height, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), lipid levels, etc. Genetics can help elucidate causality between traits and suggest loci with pleiotropic effects. One such approach is polygenic score (PGS) which summarizes the effect of multiple variants by the summation of alleles weighted by estimated effects from GWAS. To investigate genetic overlaps of LDD and related heritable risk factors, we calculated the PGS of height, BMI, BMD and lipid levels in a Chinese population-based cohort with spine MRI examination and a Japanese case-control cohort of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) requiring surgery. Because most large-scale GWASs were done in European populations, PGS of corresponding traits were created using weights from European GWASs. We calibrated their prediction performance in independent Chinese samples, then tested associations with MRI-derived LDD scores and LDH affection status. The PGS of height, BMI, BMD and lipid levels were strongly associated with respective phenotypes in Chinese, but phenotype variances explained were lower than in Europeans which would reduce the power to detect genetic overlaps. Despite of this, the PGS of BMI and lumbar spine BMD were significantly associated with LDD scores; and the PGS of height was associated with the increased the liability of LDH. Furthermore, linkage disequilibrium score regression suggested that, osteoarthritis, another degenerative disorder that shares common features with LDD, also showed genetic correlations with height, BMI and BMD. The findings suggest a common key contribution of biomechanical stress to the pathogenesis of LDD and will direct the future search for pleiotropic genes.

A genetic variant in COL11A1 is functionally associated with lumbar disc herniation in Chinese population

This study aimed to explore whether the genetic variant of COL11A1 is functionally associated with the development of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in Chinese population. SNP rs1676486 of COL11A1 was genotyped in 647 patients and 532 healthy controls. The differences of genotype and allele distributions between LDH patients and healthy controls were evaluated using the χ² test. One-way ANOVA test was used to compare the relationship between genotypes and clinical features including tissue expression of COL11A1 and the degree of disc degeneration. Patients were found to have a significantly higher frequency of TT than the controls (10.2% versus 7.3%, P = 0.004). Besides, the frequency of allele T was found to be remarkably higher in the patients than the controls (34.8% versus 28.1%, P < 0.001) with an odds ratio of 1.36 (95% confidential interval=1.14-1.63). Patients with genotype TT were found to have remarkably more severe disc degeneration (P = 0.02). Besides, the expression of COL11A1 in the lumbar disc was significantly lower in the patients with genotype TT than in those with genotype CT or CC (P < 0.001). Moreover, the expression level was inversely correlated with the severity of disc degeneration (P < 0.001). We confirmed that the rs1676486 of COL11A may be functionally associated with LDH in the Chinese population. Extracellular matrix related proteins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LDH. Our findings shed light on a better understanding of the pathogenesis of LDH, which could be a promising target for a novel treatment modality of LDH.

Early onset of disc degeneration in SM/J mice is associated with changes in ion transport systems and fibrotic events

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) causes back pain and sciatica, affecting quality of life and resulting in high economic/social burden. The etiology of IDD is not well understood. Along with aging and environmental factors, genetic factors also influence the onset, progression and severity of IDD. Genetic studies of risk factors for IDD using human cohorts are limited by small sample size and low statistical power. Animal models amenable to genetic and functional studies of IDD provide desirable alternatives. Despite differences in size and cellular content as compared to human intervertebral discs (IVDs), the mouse is a powerful model for genetics and assessment of cellular changes relevant to human biology. Here, we provide evidence for early onset disc degeneration in SM/J relative to LG/J mice with poor and good tissue healing capacity respectively. In the first few months of life, LG/J mice maintain a relatively constant pool of notochordal-like cells in the nucleus pulposus (NP) of the IVD. In contrast, chondrogenic events are observed in SM/J mice beginning as early as one-week-old, with progressive fibrotic changes. Further, the extracellular matrix changes in the NP are consistent with IVD degeneration. Leveraging on the genomic data of two parental and two recombinant inbred lines, we assessed the genetic contribution to the NP changes and identified processes linked to the regulation of ion transport systems. Significantly, "transport" system is also in the top three gene ontology (GO) terms from a comparative proteomic analysis of the mouse NP. These findings support the potential of the SM/J, LG/J and their recombinant inbred lines for future genetic and biological analysis in mice and validation of candidate genes and biological relevance in human cohort studies. The proteomic data has been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE [1] partner repository with the dataset identifier PXD008784.

Genetic background of degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine

This is a review paper on the topic of genetic background of degenerative disc diseases in the lumbar spine. Lumbar disc diseases (LDDs), such as lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar disc herniation, are the main cause of low back pain. There are a lot of studies that tried to identify the causes of LDDs. The causes have been categorized into environmental factors and genetic factors. Recent studies revealed that LDDs are mainly caused by genetic factors. Numerous studies have been carried out using the genetic approach for LDDs. The history of these studies is divided into three periods: (1) era of epidemiological research using familial background and twins, (2) era of genomic research using DNA polymorphisms to identify susceptible genes for LDDs, and (3) era of functional research to determine how the genes cause LDDs. This review article was undertaken to present the history of genetic approach to LDDs and to discuss the current issues and future perspectives.

Novel Genetic Variants Associated with Lumbar Spondylosis in Koreans : A Genome-Wide Association Study

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify the susceptibility genes responsible for lumbar spondylosis (LS) in Korean patients.

Methods

Data from 1427 subjects were made available for radiographic grading and genome wide association studies (GWAS) analysis. Lateral lumbar spine radiographs were obtained and the various degrees of degenerative change were semi-quantitatively scored. A pilot GWAS was performed using the AffymetrixGenome-Wide Human single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 500K array. A total of 352228 SNPs were analyzed and the association between the SNPs and case-control status was analyzed by stepwise logistic regression analyses.

Results

The top 100 SNPs with a cutoff p-value of less than 3.7×10^-4 were selected for joint space narrowing, while a cutoff p-value of 6.0×10^-4 was applied to osteophytes and the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) osteoarthritis grade. The SNPs with the strongest effect on disc space narrowing, osteophytes, and K-L grade were serine incorporator 1 (rs155467, odds ratio [OR]=17.58, p=1.6×10^-4), stromal interaction molecule 2 (STIM1, rs210781, OR=5.53, p=5×10^-4), and transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C (rs11224760, OR=3.99, p=4.8×10^-4), respectively. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 was significantly associated with both disc space narrowing and osteophytes (rs1979400, OR=2.01, p=1.1×10^-4 for disc space narrowing, OR=1.79, p=3×10^-4 for osteophytes), while zinc finger and BTB domain containing 7C was significantly and negatively associated with both osteophytes and a K-L grade >2 (rs12457004,OR=0.25, p=5.8×10^-4 and OR=0.27, p=5.3×10^-4, respectively).

Conclusion

We identified SNPs that potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of LS. This is the first report of a GWAS in an Asian population.

Functional polymorphisms in asporin and CILP together with joint loading predispose to hand osteoarthritis

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease afflicting people in the Western world and has a strong genetic influence. The aim of this study was to examine the association of two known functional polymorphisms in the TGF-β inhibiting genes, asporin (ASPN) and cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP), with hand OA and potential gene-occupational hand loading interaction.

Results

Statistically significant interaction of the CILP rs2073711 T and ASPN D15 alleles with hand OA was observed (OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.27–4.85, p = 0.008) in a Finnish hand OA cohort of 543 women (aged 45–63). When stratified by variation in working tasks, low variation of working tasks increased the risk further (OR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.35–6.66, p = 0.007). Based on the analysis of ASPN and CILP protein-coding regions, functional studies were performed with one observed variant, rs41278695 in the ASPN gene. Analyses showed that bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) mediated expression of aggrecan (Agc1) and type II collagen (Col2a1) was significantly suppressed (p = 0.011 and p = 0.023, respectively) in a murine chondrocytic cell line (ATDC5) with cells stably expressing ASPN rs41278695.

Conclusions

The carriage of either ASPN D15 or CILP rs2073711 TT is associated with increased risk of symmetrical hand OA, particularly in individuals with low variation in work tasks. ASPN rs41278695 SNP had an effect on Agc1 and Col2a1 gene expression when induced with BMP-2 suggesting an effect on the cartilage extracellular matrix composition.

Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure

The main structural component of connective tissues is fibrillar, cross-linked collagen whose fibrillogenesis can be modulated by Small Leucine-Rich Proteins/Proteoglycans (SLRPs). Not all SLRPs’ effects on collagen and extracellular matrix in vivo have been elucidated; one of the less investigated SLRPs is asporin. Here we describe the successful generation of an Aspn^-/- mouse model and the investigation of the Aspn^-/- skin phenotype. Functionally, Aspn^-/- mice had an increased skin mechanical toughness, although there were no structural changes present on histology or immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy analyses showed 7% thinner collagen fibrils in Aspn^-/- mice (not statistically significant). Several matrix genes were upregulated, including collagens (Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1), matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp2, Mmp3) and lysyl oxidases (Lox, Loxl2), while lysyl hydroxylase (Plod2) was downregulated. Intriguingly no differences were observed in collagen protein content or in collagen cross-linking-related lysine oxidation or hydroxylation. The glycosaminoglycan content and structure in Aspn^-/- skin was profoundly altered: chondroitin/dermatan sulfate was more than doubled and had an altered composition, while heparan sulfate was halved and had a decreased sulfation. Also, decorin and biglycan were doubled in Aspn^-/- skin. Overall, asporin deficiency changes skin glycosaminoglycan composition, and decorin and biglycan content, which may explain the changes in skin mechanical properties.

IL-1β increases asporin expression via the NF-κB p65 pathway in nucleus pulposus cells during intervertebral disc degeneration

Disc degeneration (DD) is a multifaceted chronic process that alters the structure and function of intervertebral discs. The pathophysiology of degeneration is not completely understood, but the consensus is that changes in genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the disc are the leading factors contributing to DD. Asporin is an ECM protein that has been shown to be increased in degenerated intervertebral discs, but little is known about how asporin is regulated during DD. In exploring the intricate mechanism, we confirmed that asporin was abundantly increased in patients’ degenerated nucleus pulposus. Consistently, the increased asporin expression with degeneration was also proved by rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) model. Mechanistically, IL-1β upregulated asporin expression by activating the p65 pathway in human nucleus pulposus cells. Furthermore, p65 mediated asporin expression by binding to −41/−31 bp on asporin promoter. Functionally, asporin was the intermediator of IL-1β-inhibited aggrecan and collagen Π expression and played a negative role in TGF-β-induced aggrecan and collagen Π formation in human nucleus pulposus cells. Therefore, identifying asporin as a negative regulator of aggrecan and collagen Π and elucidating its induction mechanisms in human nucleus pulposus cells provides new insight for asporin induction during IDD.

Classification of Schmorl's nodes of the lumbar spine and association with disc degeneration: a large-scale population-based MRI study

OBJECTIVE

Schmorl's nodes (SN) are highly associated with lumbar disc degeneration (DD). However, SN present with different morphologies/topographies that may be associated with varying degrees of DD. This study proposed a classification of SN to determine their morphological/topographical prevalence and association with the severity of DD.

METHODS

Sagittal T2-weighted MRIs were assessed to identify SN and additional imaging findings from L1-S1 in 2,449 individuals. SN characteristics were classified by six criteria: disc level; endplate involvement; shape; size; location of endplate zone; and the presence of marrow changes. Hierarchical clustering was performed to identify distinct SN characteristics with endplate patterns.

RESULTS

Good to excellent observer classification reliability was noted. SN most commonly presented at the L1 and L2 disc levels, and entailed one-third of the endplate, predominantly the middle zone. Round shape (39.2%) was the most common SN shape. Four specific SN and endplate linkage patterns were identified. 8.3% of identified SN (n = 960) were "Atypical SN". Multivariable regression showed that "Typical SN" and "Atypical SN", depending on levels, were associated with an adjusted 2- to 4-fold and a 5- to 13-fold higher risk of increased severity of DD, respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first large-scale magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study to propose a novel SN classification. Specific SN-types were identified, which were associated with more severe DD. This study further broadens our understanding of the role of SN and degrees of DD, further expanding on the SN phenotyping that can be internationally adopted for utility assessment.

Glycoprotein asporin as a novel player in tumour microenvironment and cancer progression

BACKGROUND

Small leucine rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), major non-collagen components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), have multiple biological roles with diverse effects. Asporin, a member of the SLRPs class I, competes with other molecules in binding to collagen and affects its mineralization. Its role in cancer is only now being elucidated.

METHODS

The PubMed online database was used to search relevant reviews and original articles. Furthermore, altered asporin expression was analysed in publicly available genome-wide expression data at the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

RESULTS

Polymorphisms in the N-terminal polyaspartate domain, which binds calcium, are associated with osteoarthritis and prostate cancer. Asporin also promotes the progression of scirrhous gastric cancer where it is required for coordinated invasion by cancer associated fibroblasts and cancer cells. Besides the enhanced expression of asporin observed in multiple cancer types, such as breast, prostate, gastric, pancreas and colon cancer, tumour suppressive effects of asporin were described in triple-negative breast cancer. We also discuss a number of factors modulating asporin expression in different cell types relevant for alterations toing the tumour microenvironment.

CONCLUSION

The apparent contradicting tumour promoting and suppressive effects of asporin require further investigation. Deciphering the role of asporin and other SLRPs in tumour-stroma interactions is needed for a better understanding of cancer progression and potentially also for novel tumour microenvironment based therapies.

Knockdown of asporin affects transforming growth factor-β1-induced matrix synthesis in human intervertebral annulus cells

Background/Objective

Asporin is associated with osteoarthritis and lumbar disk degeneration. Previous studies in chondrocytes showed that asporin can bind to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and downregulate matrix biosynthesis. However, this has not been studied in intervertebral disk (IVD) cells. This study aimed to inspect the expression of asporin under TGF-β1 stimulation and its effect on TGF-β1-induced matrix biosynthesis in human intervertebral annulus cells.

Methods

Human intervertebral annulus cells were obtained from the pathological region of IVD in eight patients. After primary culture and redifferentiation in alginate beads, cells were reseeded and treated with different concentrations (5 ng/mL, 10 ng/mL, and 15 ng/mL) of TGF-β1 for up to 24 hours. Total RNA extracted from the cells and those with asporin knockdown were subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis to examine the expression of asporin and extracellular matrix genes.

Results

TGF-β1 stimulation induces asporin transcription significantly in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Knockdown of endogenous asporin leads to the upregulated expression of collagen II alpha 1 and aggrecan.

Conclusion

Our results have verified a functional feedback loop between TGF-β1 and asporin in human intervertebral annulus cells indicating that TGF-β1-induced annulus matrix biosynthesis can be significantly upregulated by knockdown of asporin. Therefore, asporin could be a potential new therapeutic target and inhibition of asporin could be adopted to enhance the anabolic effect of TGF-β1 in human intervertebral annulus cells in degenerative IVD diseases.

Intervertebral disc development and disease-related genetic polymorphisms

The intervertebral disc (IVD) comprises a gelatinous inner core (nucleus pulposus; NP) and concentric rings (annulus fibrosus; AF). The NP, an important structure for shock absorption in the vertebrate spinal motion segment, can be traced back to the notochord in ontogenetic lineage. In vertebrates, the notochord undergoes mucinoid changes, and had been considered vestigial until recently. However, observed correlations between IVD degeneration and back pain in humans have renewed interest in the IVD in biomedical fields. Beyond its mechanical contribution to development, the notochord is also an essential signaling center, which coordinates formation of the neural tube and somites. The pertinent signaling molecules, particularly TGF-β and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), continue to play roles in the adult tissues and have been utilized for tissue regeneration. Genetic factors are major determinants of who will develop IVD degeneration and related back pain, and seem to correlate better with disc degeneration and back pain than do external forces on the spine. In summary, the spinal column is a landmark development in evolution. Genes directing the development of the IVD may also contribute to its maintenance, degeneration, and regeneration. Likewise, structural genes as well as genes responsible for maintenance of the structure are related to IVD degeneration. Finally, genes responsible for inflammation may play a dual role in exacerbating degeneration or facilitating repair responses depending on the context.

Modic changes of the lumbar spine: prevalence, risk factors, and association with disc degeneration and low back pain in a large-scale population-based cohort

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Modic changes (MC) are bone marrow lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), suggestive of being associated with low back pain (LBP). Data on determinants of MC and their association with disc degeneration and other spinal phenotypes, as well as that of LBP, rely mostly on small-scale patient populations and remain controversial.

PURPOSE

This study addressed the potential determinants of MC and their association with disc degeneration and LBP among Southern Chinese.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out.

PATIENT SAMPLE

This study consisted of 2,449 Southern Chinese volunteers.

METHODS

Sagittal T2-weighted MRIs of the lumbar spine were assessed for the presence of MC and other spinal phenotypes (eg, disc degeneration, disc displacement, Schmorl nodes) in all individuals. Subjects' demographics, occupation, lifestyle, and clinical profiles were assessed.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of MC was 5.8% (n=141), which increased with advancing age. Modic changes predominantly occurred at the lowest two lumbar levels (83%). In the multivariate analyses, only the presence of disc displacement and a higher disc degeneration score were associated with MC at the upper lumbar levels (L1/L2-L3/L4) (p<.01). The presence of MC at the lowest two lumbar levels (L4/L5-L5/S1) were associated with age, the presence of Schmorl nodes, disc degeneration or displacement, and historical lumbar injury (p<.01). Subjects who were both smokers and overweight or obese had increased likelihood of MC in the lower spine (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.10-4.30). The presence of MC at the lower lumbar levels were associated with historical LBP (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.05-3.54) and with severity and duration of symptoms (p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on one of the largest MRI studies to assess lumbar MC, we noted that MC were associated with both disc degeneration and the presence and severity of LBP. Determinants and association of MC with disc degeneration and clinical symptoms in the upper versus the lower lumbar spine were different. Our study further stresses the significance of MC as important imaging phenotypes associated with LBP.

D14 repeat polymorphism of the asporin gene is associated with primary osteoarthritis of the knee in a Mexican Mestizo population

BACKGROUND

Asporin is a novel extracellular matrix protein (ECM) with an important role in the development of osteoarthritis (OA), because it has been reported that functional polymorphisms in the aspartic acid repeat (D) of the asporin gene (ASPN) are associated with susceptibility to OA.

AIM

This study was planned to investigate the association of the ASPN polymorphism with primary OA of the knee in a Mexican population, including several countryside regions.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study in which 93 cases with primary OA of the knee and 118 controls were included. Cases included patients > 40 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI) ≤ 27 and a radiologic score for OA of the knee of ≥ 2. Controls were subjects > 40 years of age with a radiologic score of < 2. The D repeat polymorphism was genotyped and logistic regression was developed to evaluate risk magnitude.

RESULTS

The D14 allele was more common in our cases and was associated with an increased risk for developing OA, while the frequencies of the remaining alleles did not exhibit differences.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the D14 allele of the ASPN polymorphism could exert an influence on primary OA of the knee etiology in a Mexican Mestizo population.

Risk factors for lumbar intervertebral disc height narrowing: a population-based longitudinal study in the elderly

BACKGROUND

The progression of disc degeneration is generally believed to be associated with low back pain and/or degenerative lumbar diseases, especially in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate changes in lumbar disc height using radiographic measurements and to investigate risk factors for development of disc height narrowing of the elderly.

METHODS

From 1997 to 2007, 197 village inhabitants at least 65 years-old who participated in baseline examinations and more than four follow-up examinations conducted every second year were chosen as subjects for this study. Using lateral lumbar spine radiographs of each subject, L1-L2 to L5-S1 disc heights were measured. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the rate of change in disc height: mildly decreased (≤20 % decrease) and severely decreased (>20 % decrease). A stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to select those factors significantly associated with disc height narrowing.

RESULTS

Disc height at each intervertebral disc (IVD) level decreased gradually over ten years (p < 0.01, an average 5.8 % decrease of all disc levels). There was no significant difference in the rate of change in disc height among the IVD levels. Female gender, radiographic knee osteoarthritis and low back pain at baseline were associated with increased risk for disc height narrowing.

CONCLUSIONS

We conducted the first population-based cohort study of the elderly that quantitatively evaluated lumbar disc height using radiographic measurements. The risk factors identified in this study would contribute to a further understanding the pathology of disc degeneration.

Germline Variants in Asporin Vary by Race, Modulate the Tumor Microenvironment, and Are Differentially Associated with Metastatic Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE

Prostate cancers incite tremendous morbidity upon metastatic growth. We previously identified Asporin (ASPN) as a potential mediator of metastatic progression found within the tumor microenvironment. ASPN contains an aspartic acid (D)-repeat domain and germline polymorphisms in D-repeat-length have been associated with degenerative diseases. Associations of germline ASPN D polymorphisms with risk of prostate cancer progression to metastatic disease have not been assessed.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Germline ASPN D-repeat-length was retrospectively analyzed in 1,600 men who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer and in 548 noncancer controls. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the associations of ASPN variations with risk of subsequent oncologic outcomes, including metastasis. Orthotopic xenografts were used to establish allele- and stroma-specific roles for ASPN D variants in metastatic prostate cancer.

RESULTS

Variation at the ASPN D locus was differentially associated with poorer oncologic outcomes. ASPN D14 [HR, 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-2.81, P = 0.032] and heterozygosity for ASPN D13/14 (HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.03-3.35, P = 0.040) were significantly associated with metastatic recurrence, while homozygosity for the ASPN D13 variant was significantly associated with a reduced risk of metastatic recurrence (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.21-0.94, P = 0.035) in multivariable analyses. Orthotopic xenografts established biologic roles for ASPN D14 and ASPN D13 variants in metastatic prostate cancer progression that were consistent with patient-based data.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed associations between ASPN D variants and oncologic outcomes, including metastasis. Our data suggest that ASPN expressed in the tumor microenvironment is a heritable modulator of metastatic progression.

Phenotype profiling of Modic changes of the lumbar spine and its association with other MRI phenotypes: a large-scale population-based study

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Modic changes (MC) are associated with low back pain. They represent vertebral endplate and adjacent vertebral marrow changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), classified into three types. Because of small sample sizes, patient cohorts, and limited phenotype assessment, the morphology and involvement of MC and their association with other spinal phenotypes remain speculative.

PURPOSE

We addressed and proposed a phenotypic profiling of MC and their relationship with lumbar MRI phenotypes in a large-scale population-based study.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A cross-sectional study of the Hong Kong Disc Degeneration Cohort.

PATIENT SAMPLE

The study population consisted of 1,546 Southern Chinese volunteers.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Topographical and morphological dimensions of MC, presence of disc degeneration (DD) and displacement, and Schmorl nodes were evaluated.

METHODS

Axial T1-weighted and sagittal T2-weighted MRIs (3T) were assessed.

RESULTS

Females were 62.4% (mean age, 49 years). The overall prevalence of MC was 21.9% (6.3% Type I and 15.5% Type II). Of all MC, 76% were located at the two lowest lumbar levels. Modic changes at the two lowest lumbar levels were more commonly located laterally (p<.001), less commonly anteriorly (p<.001), and were more extensive horizontally (p=.006) but not in vertical height compared with the upper levels. Type I MC were less common in the anterior part (p=.022), larger in size (height p=.004), and affected more likely the whole horizontal plane (p=.016) than Type II MC. Modic changes were associated with disc displacement, Schmorl nodes, and DD at the affected level (all p<.001), and the strength of association increased with the size of the lesion. Type I MC were associated more strongly with disc displacement (p=.008) and DD (p=.022) than Type II MC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our large-scale MRI study is the first to definitely note that MC were size- and type-dependently significantly associated with disc pathology and endplate abnormalities. Our phenotype profiling of MC may have clinical utility.

The Influence of Lumbar Spinal Subtype on Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Young and Middle-Aged Adults

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To identify whether an in vivo correlation exists between lumbar spinal subtype (LSS) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) in young adults.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Lumbar disc degeneration has largely been ascribed to biomechanical and structural alterations to the disc, which are attributed to aging and pathological physical loading. Sagittal alignment in the asymptomatic spine has also been considered. A biomechanical study by Roussouly and Pinheiro-Franco proposed level-specific patterns in LDD. To date, no in vivo correlation between the LSS and LDD has been established.

METHODS

The authors screened 608 consecutive patients over 5.3 years. Lumbar spinal subtype and pelvic parameters were collected from standing lumbar radiographs and were categorized using the classification of Roussouly and Pinheiro-Franco. Lumbar disc degeneration at all lumbar intervertebral levels was classified using criteria of Pfirrmann et al. A stratified disc degeneration score was derived for each patient. Lumbar disc degeneration in type I, II, and IV LSS was compared using chi-square test. Pelvic incidence was correlated with stratified disc degeneration score using Spearman R, to determine whether a high PI was protective against LDD. Statistical significance was accepted at p < .05.

RESULTS

A total of 139 patients were included, with 91 females and a mean age of 32.6 years (range, 13-49 years). For LSS grades I to IV, there were 10 (7.3%), 43 (30.9%), 50 (35.9%), and 36 (25.9%) patients, respectively. The proportion of high-grade (Pfirrmann grades IV and V) LDD increased distally toward the lower intervertebral levels, affecting 2.88%, 2.9%, 5%, 9.4%, 33.1%, and 54% of discs at each sequential lumbar level from T12-L1 to L5-S1, respectively. Age but not gender was statistically significant for higher-grade LDD (p < .0001 and p = .442, respectively). Pelvic incidence across all LSS grades was not significantly correlated with stratified disc degeneration score (Spearman R = 0.0933; p = .335). No LSS (type I-IV) reached statistical significance for a specific pattern of LDD.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, LSS was not statistically significantly correlated with LDD, nor was a high pelvic incidence protective against LDD.

Asporin participates in gastric cancer cell growth and migration by influencing EGF receptor signaling

Asporin (ASPN), a novel member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family, serves as a key component of the tumor stroma and has been reported to be abnormally expressed in certain types of tumors. Specifically, the proteoglycan was proven to activate the coordinated invasion of scirrhous gastric cancer and cancer-associated fibroblasts. However, the role of ASPN in cancer cell growth and metastasis has not yet been addressed. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the tumoricidal benefits of ASPN on tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer. Firstly, it was demonstrated that ASPN was overexpressed in gastric carcinoma tissues when compared to the corresponding non‑cancerous tissues, and it had varied levels of expression in gastric cancer epithelial cell lines. Additionally, we assessed the effects of transient siRNA‑mediated ASPN knockdown on gastric cancer cells. ASPN silencing inhibited proliferation and suppressed the migration of immortalized neoplastic epithelial cells. Furthermore, at the molecular level, we found that downregulation of ASPN blocked the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2, increased the expression of pro-apoptotic molecule Bad, reduced the expression of migration-related proteins CD44 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and abrogated the activation of the phosphorylation status of ERK and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR). Collectively, our findings indicate that ASPN is upregulated and plays an oncogenic role in gastric cancer progression and metastasis by influencing the EGFR signaling pathway.

An organ culture system to model early degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc II: profiling global gene expression changes

Introduction

Despite many advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of disc degeneration, there remains a paucity of preclinical models which can be used to study the biochemical and molecular events that drive disc degeneration, and the effects of potential therapeutic interventions. The goal of this study is to characterize global gene expression changes in a disc organ culture system that mimics early nontraumatic disc degeneration.

Methods

To mimic a degenerative insult, rat intervertebral discs were cultured in the presence of TNF-α, IL-1β and serum-limiting conditions. Gene expression analysis was performed using a microarray to identify differential gene expression between experimental and control groups. Differential pattern of gene expression was confirmed using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or Western blot.

Results

Treatment resulted in significant changes in expression of more than 1,000 genes affecting many aspects of cell function including cellular movement, the cell cycle, cellular development, and cell death and proliferation. Many of the most highly upregulated and downregulated genes have known functions in disc degeneration and extracellular matrix hemostasis. Construction of gene networks based on known cellular pathways and expression data from our analysis demonstrated that the network associated with cell death, cell cycle regulation and DNA replication and repair was most heavily affected in this model of disc degeneration.

Conclusions

This rat organ culture model uses cytokine exposure to induce wide gene expression changes with the most affected genes having known reported functions in disc degeneration. We propose that this model is a valuable tool to study the etiology of disc degeneration and evaluate potential therapeutic treatments.

TGF-β signaling and the development of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint degenerative disease affecting the whole joint structure, including articular cartilage, subchondral bone and synovial tissue. Although extensive work has been done in recent years to explore the molecular mechanism underlying this disease, the pathogenesis of OA is still poorly understood and currently, there is no effective disease-modifying treatment for OA. Recently, both in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that confirmed (TGF-β)/SMAD pathway plays a critical role during OA development. This short review will focus on the function and signaling mechanisms of TGF-β/SMAD pathway in articular chondrocytes, mesenchymal progenitor cells of subchondral bone and synovial lining cells during OA development.

Mesenchymal stem cells: potential application in intervertebral disc regeneration

Chronic low back pain is one of the leading public health problems in developed countries. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is a major pathological process implicated in low back pain, which is characterized by cellular apoptosis and senescence with reduced synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM). Currently, there is no clinical therapy targeting the reversal of disc degeneration. Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have provided an exciting approach to disc regeneration that focuses on the delivery of viable cells to the degenerative disc. Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells with self-renewal capacities and are able to differentiate into diverse specialized cell types, including chondrocyte lineages. The potential of stem cell therapy in disc degeneration is to repopulate the disc with viable cells capable of producing the ECM and restoring damaged tissue. The present literature review summarizes recent advances in basic research and clinical trials of MSCs to provide an outline of the key roles of MSCs therapies in disc repair. The review also discusses the controversies, challenges and therapeutic concepts for the future.

Inhibitory effects of PLAP-1/asporin on periodontal ligament cells

PLAP-1/asporin is an extracellular matrix protein that is predominantly expressed in the human periodontal ligament (PDL) and has an aspartic acid (D) repeat polymorphism in its N-terminal region. In this study, we hypothesized that the D repeat polymorphism of PLAP-1/asporin may affect the physiological functions of periodontal ligaments. We established periodontal ligament cell lines transfected with the D13- or D14-PLAP-1 gene. Alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining revealed that the cytodifferentiation of the D14-PLAP-1-expressing PDL cells was more repressed compared with that of the D13-PLAP-1-expressing cells. Furthermore, the D14-PLAP-1-expressing cells inhibited BMP-2-induced cytodifferentiation more strongly than did the D13-PLAP-1-expressing cells. Western blotting analysis and luciferase assay revealed that D14-PLAP-1 suppressed BMP-2 signal transduction more efficiently than did D13-PLAP-1, and co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated the stronger affinity of the D14-PLAP-1 protein to BMP-2 compared with the D13-PLAP-1 protein. Analysis of these data suggests that the D repeat polymorphism of PLAP-1/asporin has a significant influence on the functions of PDL cells.

Cartilage Intermediate Layer Protein and Asporin Polymorphisms Are Independent Risk Factors of Lumbar Disc Degeneration in Male Collegiate Athletes

OBJECTIVE

Lumbar disc degeneration (LDDG), recently reported to have strong genetic determinants, is a major cause of discopathy and lower back pain. However, most studies have only evaluated the effects of a single susceptibility polymorphism. Our purpose was to examine the effect of two susceptibility polymorphism for LDDG in Japanese collegiate athletes.

DESIGN

We investigated two susceptibility genes for LDDG-cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP) and asporin (ASPN)-in 516 collegiate athletes and genotyped the risk allele of CILP (1184T/C) and ASPN (D14). LDDG was evaluated using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

By using logistic regression analysis, we found that the ASPN D14 allele and CILP genotype were associated with an increased risk of LDDG in male but not female athletes (CILP CT: odds ratios [OR] = 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-2.93; CILP CC: OR = 4.38, 95% CI = 1.42-13.54; ASPN D14: OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.10-4.28]. We also found that CILP C and ASPN D14 were independent variables. The ORs with more than two risk alleles were largely increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The CILP and ASPN polymorphisms are independent genetic risk factors for LDDG in male but not female Japanese collegiate athletes.

Translational research of herniated discs: current status of diagnosis and treatment

Lumbar herniated discs commonly occur in patients 20-40 years of age, and result in acute symptoms of shooting and intractable pain in the low back and/or lower extremities. However, the prognosis of these patients is considered to be very good. Moreover, 70% of these patients have been reported to be free from sciatica at approximately 6 months after the first onset. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have described the spontaneous resorption process of herniated discs, which is a major cause of the reduction of symptoms in patients. New advancements in MRI have recently been developed that have facilitated the examination of nerve tract fibers and identification of symptomatic nerve tissue. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the resorption process of a herniated disc has been determined. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α, angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, and enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases are intricately related to each other. In our previous studies, matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been shown to play a crucial role in the initiation of herniated disc resorption. Therefore, we developed recombinant human MMP-7 for intradiscal therapy through an industry-university joint research program. We have already performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm its efficacy; this therapy avoids the side effects associated with surgery, such as nerve tissue damage. Moreover, the phase 1/2 studies of recombinant human (rh) MMP-7 are currently ongoing in the United States, and careful monitoring is required for these clinical trials. In conclusion, patients with lumbar herniated discs may benefit from the development of a less invasive treatment for disc herniation, which can be applied even immediately after the onset of disease symptoms.