Heparanase isoform expression and extracellular matrix remodeling in intervertebral disc degenerative disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the molecules involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and to identify and quantify heparanase isoforms present in herniated and degenerative discs. INTRODUCTION: Heparanase is an endo-beta-glucuronidase that specifically acts upon the heparan sulfate chains of proteoglyca...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Rodrigues, Luciano Miller Reis, Theodoro, Thérèse Rachell, Matos, Leandro Luongo, Mader, Ana Maria, Milani, Carlo, Pinhal, Maria Aparecida da Silva
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2011
Country:Brasil
Institution:Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
Repository:Clinics
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:revistas.usp.br:article/19571
Online Access:https://www.revistas.usp.br/clinics/article/view/19571
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Intervertebral degeneration
Herniated disc
Heparanase
Extracellular matrix
Proteoglycan
Description
Summary:OBJECTIVE: To determine the molecules involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and to identify and quantify heparanase isoforms present in herniated and degenerative discs. INTRODUCTION: Heparanase is an endo-beta-glucuronidase that specifically acts upon the heparan sulfate chains of proteoglycans. However, heparanase expression in degenerative intervertebral discs has not yet been evaluated. Notably, previous studies demonstrated a correlation between changes in the heparan sulfate proteoglycan pattern and the degenerative process associated with intervertebral discs. METHODS: Twenty-nine samples of intervertebral degenerative discs, 23 samples of herniated discs and 12 samples of non-degenerative discs were analyzed. The expression of both heparanase isoforms (heparanase-1 and heparanase-2) was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR analysis. RESULTS: Heparanase-1 and heparanase-2 expression levels were significantly higher in the herniated and degenerative discs in comparison to the control tissues, suggesting a possible role of these proteins in the intervertebral degenerative process. CONCLUSION: The overexpression of heparanase isoforms in the degenerative intervertebral discs and the herniated discs suggests a potential role of both proteins in the mediation of inflammatory processes and in extracellular matrix remodeling. The heparanase-2 isoform may be involved in normal metabolic processes, as evidenced by its higher expression in the control intervertebral discs relative to the expression of heparanase-1.