Age-dependent expression of the Vitamin D receptor and the protective effect of Vitamin D receptor activation on H2O2-induced apoptosis in rat intervertebral disc cells

Publication date: Available online 21 March 2019Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyAuthor(s): Tong Tong, Zhihui Liu, Hua Zhang, Jinglei Sun, Dongxia Zhang, Feng Wang, Dechao Miao, Yong ShenAbstractAccumulating evidence shows that genetic polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene is associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), implying that VDR may be involved in the pathogenesis of IDD. However, the exact relationship between VDR and IDD remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the age-dependent expression of VDR in rat intervertebral discs and to determine the effect of VDR on oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis of the annulus fibrosus (AF) and the underlying mechanism. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans at young (2–3 months), adult (6–7 months), and old (14–15 months) ages. The images revealed age-related degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral discs and endplates. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive expression of VDR in the AF. The expression level of VDR in aged rats was significantly reduced compared with that in the young and adult animals and exhibited a negative correlation to IDD severity. Western blot analysis further demonstrated that the amount of VDR protein was significantly decreased in severe degenerative discs. AF cells were also isolated from young rat lumbar discs and subjected to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide...
Source: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research