J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2005 Mar;12(1):12-21. 10.4184/jkss.2005.12.1.12.

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 in Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis

• Cho ST
• Sohn JM
• Ha NK
• Ha KY
• Choi KY
• Suh YW

• KMID: 1897016
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2005.12.1.12

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to investigate the differences in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 in degenerative scoliosis compared with other degenerative disc disease of the spine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The intervertebral disc materials were obtained during discectomies. Six, 13 and 12 cases of herniated nucleus pulposus, spinal stenosis and degenerative lumbar scoliosis, respectively, were included in the experimental group. The expression of MMP-3 was evaluated three times that of the means, in the immunohistochemical staining, western blotting using anti human MMP-3 antibody and RT-PCR with MMP-3 primer, respectively.
RESULTS
On the immunohistochemical stains, extensive and strong staining was noted in the discs of degenerative lumbar scoliosis compared to those with spinal stenosis and HNP. In the western blotting, greater expression of MMP-3 was noted in the discs of degenerative lumbar scoliosis (mean optical density: 20.68) than in other degenerative disc diseases (SS: 6.24, HNP: 2.0). In the RT-PCR, a similar result was shown (DLS: 62.1, SS: 27.4 and HNP: 10.4). There were statistically significant differences between degenerative lumbar scoliosis and degenerative disc disease (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Rapid degeneration of the intervertebral disc might be an important factor in the pathogenesis of degenerative lumbar scoliosis. MMP-3 could be a key enzyme for the rapid degeneration of the intervertebral discs, especially in degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Keyword

Intervertebral disc; Degenerative lumbar scoliosis; MMP-3

MeSH Terms

Blotting, Western
Coloring Agents
Diskectomy
Humans
Intervertebral Disc
Scoliosis*
Spinal Stenosis
Spine
Coloring Agents

Figure

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  Fig. 1. (A, B) Photomicrographs of immunohistochemical staining for MMP-3(counter-stain with H-E, × 100, × 400). Slight expression of MMP-3 in HNP.

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  Fig. 2. (A, B) Photomicrographs of immunohistochemical staining for MMP-3(counter-stain with H-E, × 100, × 400). Degenerations of the disc and expression of MMP-3 are noted in the sample, obtained in SS. Profuse expression of MMP-3 with reddish area and more cellular proliferation than HNP are noted.

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  Fig. 3. (A, B) Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-3(counter-stain with H-E, × 100, × 400). Severe disc degeneration with many cleft of the disc material and cellular proliferation are noted in DLS. Also marked expressions of MMP-3 is noted with reddish stains.

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  Fig. 4. (A, B) Expression of MMP-3 in intervertebral disc of various spinal disease. More thick band expressed in DLS than SS. Sparse expression shows in HNP

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  Fig. 5. Expression of MMP-3 in intervertebral disc of various spinal disease. Intensity of the bands is evaluated using Image Master VDS software and standardized for β-actin expression. HNP: Herniated Nucleus Pulposus, SS: Spinal Stenosis, DLS: Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis *: P<0.05.

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  Fig. 6. RT-PCR amplication of MMP-3 mRNA in the human intervertebral disc which are excised from DLS, SS and HNP. The photograph of 1% agarose gel eletrophoresis shows the gene expression of MMP-3 and GAPDH as single bands of expected sizes in each specimen. and Paragraphs show comparison of gene expression levels of MMP-3 between HNP, SS and DLS. (HNP; Herniated nucleus pulposus, SS: Spinal Stenosis, DLS: Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis)

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