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. 2019 Feb;17(2):1367-1373.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.7085. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Influence of microgravity-induced intervertebral disc degeneration of rats on expression levels of p53/p16 and proinflammatory factors

Yang Li  1   2 , Lei Cao  2 , Jun Li  2 , Zhongyi Sun  2 , Chao Liu  2 , He Liang  2 , Deguo Wang  2 , Jiwei Tian  1
Affiliations

Influence of microgravity-induced intervertebral disc degeneration of rats on expression levels of p53/p16 and proinflammatory factors

Yang Li et al. Exp Ther Med. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Association of expression levels of tumor suppressor proteins p53 and p16 and inflammatory factors in simulated weightlessness with the degree of lumbar disc degeneration of rats was investigated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was performed for rats in control group and experimental group, and the intervertebral disc of rats in both groups was detected and analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) histopathological staining. The mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory factors, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected, and p53 and p16 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected. MRI results showed significant intervertebral disc injury in experimental group. Results of H&E staining revealed that the intervertebral disc injury in experimental group was more serious with obvious signs of degeneration than that in control group. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) in rats in experimental group were significantly increased compared with those in control group, indicating that the degree of lumbar disc degeneration of rats in simulated weightlessness is closely related to the inflammatory factors. RT-PCR and western blotting proved that both p53 and p16 mRNA and protein expression levels in experimental group were obviously increased. Results of t-test manifested that there were statistically significant differences in p53 and p16 expression levels between control group and experimental group (P<0.01). The abnormal expression levels of p53 and p16 genes have close association with the degree of lumbar disc degeneration of rats in simulated weightlessness, and the lumbar disc degeneration is also closely related to the increased expression levels of inflammatory factors.

Keywords: inflammatory factors; lumbar disc degeneration; p16; p53; simulated weightlessness.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Results of H&E staining of intervertebral disc in control group and experimental group (×200). Compared with control group, in the experimental group, the morphology of the cartilage showed disorganization and narrowing of intervertebral space.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in intervertebral disc tissues in experimental group and control group. The values are the mean ± SD. **P<0.01 and vs. control group.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
p53 and p16 mRNA expression levels in intervertebral disc tissues in experimental group and control group. **P<0.01 vs. control group.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
p53 and p16 protein expression levels in intervertebral disc tissues in experimental group and control group. The values are the mean ± SD. **P<0.01 and vs. control group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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