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Penolazzi L, Chierici A, Notarangelo MP, Dallan B, Lisignoli G, Lambertini E, Greco P, Piva R, Nastruzzi C. Wharton's jelly-derived multifunctional hydrogels: New tools to promote intervertebral disc regeneration in vitro and ex vivo. J Biomed Mater Res A 2024; 112:973-987. [PMID: 38308554 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The degeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) is a disease of the entire joint between two vertebrae in the spine caused by loss of extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity, to date with no cure. The various regenerative approaches proposed so far have led to very limited successes. An emerging opportunity arises from the use of decellularized ECM as a scaffolding material that, directly or in combination with other materials, has greatly facilitated the advancement of tissue engineering. Here we focused on the decellularized matrix obtained from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly (DWJ) which retains several structural and bioactive molecules very similar to those of the IVD ECM. However, being a viscous gel, DWJ has limited ability to retain ordered structural features when considered as architecture scaffold. To overcome this limitation, we produced DWJ-based multifunctional hydrogels, in the form of 3D millicylinders containing different percentages of alginate, a seaweed-derived polysaccharide, and gelatin, denatured collagen, which may impart mechanical integrity to the biologically active DWJ. The developed protocol, based on a freezing step, leads to the consolidation of the entire polymeric dispersion mixture, followed by an ionic gelation step and a freeze-drying process. Finally, a porous, stable, easily storable, and suitable matrix for ex vivo experiments was obtained. The properties of the millicylinders (Wharton's jelly millicylinders [WJMs]) were then tested in culture of degenerated IVD cells isolated from disc tissues of patients undergoing surgical discectomy. We found that WJMs with the highest percentage of DWJ were effective in supporting cell migration, restoration of the IVD phenotype (increased expression of Collagen type 2, aggrecan, Sox9 and FOXO3a), anti-inflammatory action, and stem cell activity of resident progenitor/notochordal cells (increased number of CD24 positive cells). We are confident that the DWJ-based formulations proposed here can provide adequate stimuli to the cells present in the degenerated IVD to restart the anabolic machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Penolazzi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Anna Chierici
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Beatrice Dallan
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gina Lisignoli
- Laboratorio di Immunoreumatologia e Rigenerazione Tissutale, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Lambertini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pantaleo Greco
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberta Piva
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudio Nastruzzi
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Chen M, Li F, Qu M, Jin X, He T, He S, Chen S, Yao Q, Wang L, Chen D, Wu X, Xiao G. Pip5k1γ promotes anabolism of nucleus pulposus cells and intervertebral disc homeostasis by activating CaMKII-Ampk pathway in aged mice. Aging Cell 2024:e14237. [PMID: 38840443 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) represents a significant global health challenge, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the role of type 1 phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (Pip5k1) in intervertebral disc (IVD) homeostasis and disease. All three Pip5k1 isoforms, namely Pip5k1α, Pip5k1β, and Pip5k1γ, were detectable in mouse and human IVD tissues, with Pip5k1γ displaying a highest expression in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. The expression of Pip5k1γ was significantly down-regulated in the NP cells of aged mice and patients with severe DDD. To determine whether Pip5k1γ expression is required for disc homeostasis, we generated a Pip5k1γfl/fl; AggrecanCreERT2 mouse model for the conditional knockout of the Pip5k1γ gene in aggrecan-expressing IVD cells. Our findings revealed that the conditional deletion of Pip5k1γ did not affect the disc structure or cellular composition in 5-month-old adult mice. However, in aged (15-month-old) mice, this deletion led to several severe degenerative disc defects, including decreased NP cellularity, spontaneous fibrosis and cleft formation, and a loss of the boundary between NP and annulus fibrosus. At the molecular level, the absence of Pip5k1γ reduced the anabolism of NP cells without markedly affecting their catabolic or anti-catabolic activities. Moreover, the loss of Pip5k1γ significantly dampened the activation of the protective Ampk pathway in NP cells, thereby accelerating NP cell senescence. Notably, Pip5k1γ deficiency blunted the effectiveness of metformin, a potent Ampk activator, in activating the Ampk pathway and mitigating lumbar spine instability (LSI)-induced disc lesions in mice. Overall, our study unveils a novel role for Pip5k1γ in promoting anabolism and maintaining disc homeostasis, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for DDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjue Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feiyun Li
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Minghao Qu
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Southern University of Science and Technology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaowan Jin
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tailin He
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuangshuang He
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Yao
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Southern University of Science and Technology Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Di Chen
- Research Center for Human Tissues and Organs Degeneration, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaohao Wu
- Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Guozhi Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cell Microenvironment and Disease Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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Zhang TL, Chen WK, Huang XP, Zheng BW, Wu PF, Zheng BY, Jiang LX, Escobar D, Li J, Lv GH, Huang W, Zhou H, Xu Z, Zou MX. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the MIF/ACKR3 receptor-ligand interaction between neutrophils and nucleus pulposus cells in intervertebral disc degeneration. Transl Res 2024; 272:1-18. [PMID: 38823438 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2024.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To unravel the heterogeneity and function of microenvironmental neutrophils during intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). METHODS Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was utilized to dissect the cellular landscape of neutrophils in intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues and their crosstalk with nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). The expression levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and ACKR3 in IVD tissues were detected. The MIF/ACKR3 axis was identified and its effects on IDD were investigated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS We sequenced here 71520 single cells from 5 control and 9 degenerated IVD samples using scRNA-seq. We identified a unique cluster of neutrophils abundant in degenerated IVD tissues that highly expressed MIF and was functionally enriched in extracellular matrix organization (ECMO). Cell-to-cell communication analyses showed that this ECMO-neutrophil subpopulation was closely interacted with an effector NPCs subtype, which displayed high expression of ACKR3. Further analyses revealed that MIF was positively correlated with ACKR3 and functioned via directly binding to ACKR3 on effector NPCs. MIF inhibition attenuated degenerative changes of NPCs and extracellular matrix, which could be partially reversed by ACKR3 overexpression. Clinically, a significant correlation of high MIF/ACKR3 expression with advanced IDD grade was observed. Furthermore, we also found a positive association between MIF+ ECMO-neutrophil counts and ACKR3+ effector NPCs density as well as higher expression of the MIF/ACKR3 signaling in areas where these two cell types were neighbors. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that ECMO-neutrophil promotes IDD progression by their communication with NPCs via the MIF/ACKR3 axis, which may shed light on therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao-Lan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Wen-Kang Chen
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Xian-Peng Huang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Bo-Wen Zheng
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China; Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Peng-Fei Wu
- Department of Genetics and Endocrinology, National Children's Medical Center for South Central Region, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, Guangdong, China
| | - Bo-Yv Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics Surgery, General Hospital of the Central Theater Command, Wuhan 430061, China
| | - Ling-Xiang Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 USA
| | - David Escobar
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Toledo, College of Medicine & Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Guo-Hua Lv
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Health Management Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zhun Xu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
| | - Ming-Xiang Zou
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
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Xie H, Lu F, Li X, Wang E, Mo J, Liang W. Silencing of secreted phosphoprotein 1 attenuates sciatic nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain: Regulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase and neuroinflammatory signaling pathways. Immun Inflamm Dis 2024; 12:e1132. [PMID: 38415922 PMCID: PMC10836034 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic pathological pain that affects the quality of life and is a huge medical burden for affected patients. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) on NP. METHODS We established a chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model, knocked down SPP1 via an intrathecal injection, and/or activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) treatment. Pain behaviors, including paw withdrawal threshold (PWT), paw withdrawal latency (PWL), lifting number, and frequency, were assessed. After sacrificing rats, the L4-L5 dorsal root ganglion was collected. Then, SPP1 levels were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-10, epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were determined using qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of ERK pathway factors were determined via western blot analysis. RESULTS We found that CCI decreased PWT and PWL, increased the lifting number and frequency, and upregulated SPP1 levels. The loss of SPP1 reversed these CCI-induced effects. Additionally, CCI upregulated IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, EGF, and VEGF levels, downregulated TGF-β levels, and activated the ERK pathway, while silencing of SPP1 abrogated these CCI-induced effects. Moreover, IGF-1 treatment reversed the effects of SPP1 loss. CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that silencing SPP1 attenuates NP via inactivation of the ERK pathway, suggesting that SPP1 may be a promising target for NP treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyu Xie
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical UniversityGanzhou CityJiangxi ProvinceChina
| | - Feng Lu
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical UniversityGanzhou CityJiangxi ProvinceChina
| | - Xiaoling Li
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical UniversityGanzhou CityJiangxi ProvinceChina
| | - Enfu Wang
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical UniversityGanzhou CityJiangxi ProvinceChina
| | - Jiao Mo
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical UniversityGanzhou CityJiangxi ProvinceChina
| | - Weidong Liang
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical UniversityGanzhou CityJiangxi ProvinceChina
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Kuchynsky K, Stevens P, Hite A, Xie W, Diop K, Tang S, Pietrzak M, Khan S, Walter B, Purmessur D. Transcriptional profiling of human cartilage endplate cells identifies novel genes and cell clusters underlying degenerated and non-degenerated phenotypes. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:12. [PMID: 38173036 PMCID: PMC10763221 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03220-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is frequently attributed to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Though the contributions of the adjacent cartilage endplates (CEP) to IVD degeneration are well documented, the phenotype and functions of the resident CEP cells are critically understudied. To better characterize CEP cell phenotype and possible mechanisms of CEP degeneration, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing of non-degenerated and degenerated CEP cells were performed. METHODS Human lumbar CEP cells from degenerated (Thompson grade ≥ 4) and non-degenerated (Thompson grade ≤ 2) discs were expanded for bulk (N=4 non-degenerated, N=4 degenerated) and single-cell (N=1 non-degenerated, N=1 degenerated) RNA sequencing. Genes identified from bulk RNA sequencing were categorized by function and their expression in non-degenerated and degenerated CEP cells were compared. A PubMed literature review was also performed to determine which genes were previously identified and studied in the CEP, IVD, and other cartilaginous tissues. For single-cell RNA sequencing, different cell clusters were resolved using unsupervised clustering and functional annotation. Differential gene expression analysis and Gene Ontology, respectively, were used to compare gene expression and functional enrichment between cell clusters, as well as between non-degenerated and degenerated CEP samples. RESULTS Bulk RNA sequencing revealed 38 genes were significantly upregulated and 15 genes were significantly downregulated in degenerated CEP cells relative to non-degenerated cells (|fold change| ≥ 1.5). Of these, only 2 genes were previously studied in CEP cells, and 31 were previously studied in the IVD and other cartilaginous tissues. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed 11 unique cell clusters, including multiple chondrocyte and progenitor subpopulations with distinct gene expression and functional profiles. Analysis of genes in the bulk RNA sequencing dataset showed that progenitor cell clusters from both samples were enriched in "non-degenerated" genes but not "degenerated" genes. For both bulk- and single-cell analyses, gene expression and pathway enrichment analyses highlighted several pathways that may regulate CEP degeneration, including transcriptional regulation, translational regulation, intracellular transport, and mitochondrial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS This thorough analysis using RNA sequencing methods highlighted numerous differences between non-degenerated and degenerated CEP cells, the phenotypic heterogeneity of CEP cells, and several pathways of interest that may be relevant in CEP degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Kuchynsky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 3016 Fontana Laboratories, 140 W. 19th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Patrick Stevens
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Amy Hite
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - William Xie
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Khady Diop
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 3016 Fontana Laboratories, 140 W. 19th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Shirley Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 3016 Fontana Laboratories, 140 W. 19th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Maciej Pietrzak
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Safdar Khan
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Benjamin Walter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 3016 Fontana Laboratories, 140 W. 19th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Devina Purmessur
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 3016 Fontana Laboratories, 140 W. 19th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Embersics C, Bannasch D, Batcher K, Boudreau EC, Church M, Miller A, Platt S, Koehler J, Olby N, Rossmeisl J, Rissi D, Grahn R, Donner J, Dickinson PJ. Association of the FGF4L2 retrogene with fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy in dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2024; 38:258-267. [PMID: 37916855 PMCID: PMC10800192 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCE) is a well-documented condition in dogs although rarely reported in chondrodystrophic breeds. Genetic associations have not been defined. OBJECTIVES Define the association of the chondrodystrophy-associated FGF4L2 retrogene with histopathologically confirmed cases of FCE. ANIMALS Ninety-eight dogs with a histopathologic diagnosis of FCE. METHODS Retrospective multicenter study. Dogs were genotyped for the FGF4L2 and FGF4L1 retrogenes using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Associations between breed, FCE and retrogene status were investigated with reference to a hospital population and known breed and general population allele frequencies. RESULTS FGF4L2 genotype was defined in 89 FCE cases. Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy was present in 22 dogs from FGF4L2-segregating breeds with allele frequencies of ≥5%; however, all dogs were wild type. Two Labrador retrievers with FCE carried FGF4L2 alleles. Frequency of the FGF4L2 allele was significantly (P < .001) and negatively associated with FCE relative to predicted hospital-population dogs. FCE was overrepresented in Boxer, Great Dane, Yorkshire Terrier, Bernese Mountain Dog, Miniature Schnauzer, Rottweiler, and Shetland Sheepdog breeds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Study data based on genotypically and histopathologically defined cases support the historical observation that FCE is uncommon in chondrodystrophic dog breeds. FGF4 plays an important role in angiogenesis and vascular integrity; anatomical studies comparing chondrodystrophic and non-chondrodystrophic dogs might provide insight into the pathogenesis of FCE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Embersics
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Danika Bannasch
- Department of Population Health and ReproductionUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kevin Batcher
- Department of Population Health and ReproductionUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elizabeth C. Boudreau
- Department of Small Animal Clinical SciencesTexas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical SciencesCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Molly Church
- Department of PathobiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Andrew Miller
- Department of Biomedical SciencesCornell University College of Veterinary MedicineIthicaNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Jey Koehler
- Department of PathobiologyAuburn University College of Veterinary MedicineAuburnAlabamaUSA
| | - Natasha Olby
- Department of Clinical SciencesNorth Carolina State University College of Veterinary MedicineRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - John Rossmeisl
- Department of Small Animal Clinical SciencesVirginia‐Maryland College of Veterinary MedicineBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Daniel Rissi
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Georgia College of Veterinary MedicineAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Robert Grahn
- Veterinary Genetics LaboratoryUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jonas Donner
- Wisdom Panel Research Team, Wisdom PanelHelsinkiFinland
| | - Peter J. Dickinson
- Department of Surgical and Radiological SciencesUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
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Zhao Y, Mu Y, Zou Y, Lei X, Ji R, Wei B, Wei T, Lu T, He Z, Wang X, Li W, Gao B. Integrated analysis of single-cell transcriptome and structural biology approach reveals the dynamics changes of NP subtypes and roles of Menaquinone in attenuating intervertebral disc degeneration. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-24. [PMID: 37902557 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2275172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a progressive and chronic disease, the mechanisms have been studied extensively as a whole, while the cellular heterogeneity of cells in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues remained controversial for a long time. This study conducted integrated analysis through single-cell sequencing analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and differential expression analysis, to systematically decipher the longitudinal alterations of distinct NP subtypes, and also analyzed the most essential genes in the development of IDD. Then, this study further conducted structural biology method to discover the potential lead compounds through a suite of advanced approaches like high-throughput screening (HTVS), pharmaceutical characteristics assessment, CDOCKER module as well as molecular dynamics simulation, etc., aiming to ameliorate the progression of IDD. Totally 5 NP subpopulations were identified with distinct biological functions based on their unique gene expression patterns. The predominant dynamics changes mainly involved RegNPs and EffNPs, the RegNPs were mainly aggregated in normal NP tissues and drastically decreased in degenerative NP, while EffNPs, as pathogenic subtype, exhibited opposite phenomenon. Importantly, this study further reported the essential roles of Menaquinone in alleviating degenerative NP cells for the first time, which could provide solid evidence for the application of nutritional therapy in the treatment of IDD. This study combined scRNA-seq, bulk-RNA seq and HTVS techniques to systematically decipher the longitudinal changes of NP subtypes during IDD. EffNPs were considered to be 'chief culprit' in IDD progression, while the novel natural drug Menaquinone could reverse this phenomenon.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjing Zhao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuxue Mu
- Aerospace Clinical Medical Center, School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yujia Zou
- China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin, China
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Lei
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Ji
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bingqian Wei
- Basic Medical College, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianyu Wei
- Basic Medical College, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianxing Lu
- Zonglian College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhijian He
- Department of Sports Teaching and Research, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xinhui Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College, Xinxiang, China
| | - Weihang Li
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bo Gao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
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