Influence of rabbit notochordal cells on symptomatic intervertebral disc degeneration: anti-angiogenic capacity on human endothelial cell proliferation under hypoxia

W. K. Kwon, H. J. Moon, T. H. Kwon, Y. K. Park, J. H. Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives Symptomatic degenerative disc disease (DDD) is associated with neovascularization and nerve ingrowth into intervertebral discs (IVDs). Notochordal cells (NCs) are key cells that may lead to regeneration of IVDs. However, their activities under conditions of hypoxia, the real environment of IVD, are not well known. We hypothesized that NCs may inhibit neovascularization by interacting with endothelial cells (ECs) under hypoxia. Design Human IVDs were isolated and cultured to produce nucleus pulposus (NP) cell conditioned medium (NPCM). Immortalized human microvascular ECs were cultured in NPCM with notochordal cell-rich rabbit nucleus pulposus cells (rNC) under hypoxia. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were analyzed by ELISA. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), filamentous actin (F-actin), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were evaluated to investigate EC activity. Wound-healing migration assays were performed to examine EC migration. Results The VEGF level of EC cells cultured in NPCM was significantly higher under hypoxia compared to normoxia. VEGF expression was significantly decreased, and FAK, F-actin, PDGF expression were inhibited when ECs were cocultured with rNCs under hypoxia. ECs cocultured with rNC in NPCM showed significantly decreased migratory activity compared to those without rNC under hypoxia. Conclusions The angiogenic capacity of ECs was significantly inhibited by NCs under hypoxia via a VEGF-related pathway. Our results suggest that NCs may play a key role in the development of IVDs by inhibiting vascular growth within the disc, and this may be a promising novel therapeutic strategy for targeting vascular ingrowth in symptomatic DDD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1738-1746
Number of pages9
JournalOsteoarthritis and Cartilage
Volume25
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Oct
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Osteoarthritis Research Society International

Keywords

  • Angiogenesis
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Endothelial cell
  • Hypoxia
  • Notochordal cell
  • Nucleus pulposus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rheumatology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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