Involvement Of P38MAPK Signal Transduction In The Pathomechanism Of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

[Objective]The purpose of this thesis is to observe pathological changes of degenerativelumbar nucleus pulposus, discuss the presence and significance of p38MAPK andASK1, and provide a theoretical basis for clinically analyzing the etiology of lumbardisc herniation (LDH) and guiding its treatment.[Methods]We selected the surgical specimens from orthopedics department of The FirstAffiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. The experimental materials weredivided into two groups as follows:â‘ Experimental group:40cases of nucleuspulposus removed from LDH and prominent patients,23males and17females, agingfrom28to72. Based on the preoperative CT scan and intraoperative probe, theexperimental group was divided into annulus fibrosus complete group (20cases) andrupture group (20cases).â‘¡Control group:10cases of nucleus pulposus removedfrom patients who suffered from lumbar fractures,6males and4females, aging from23to49. We stained HE and used light microscope to observe whether nucleuspulposus degenerated; we applied immunohistochemical techniques to detectp38MAPK and ASK1. If p38MAPK and ASK1were positive, the cells were yellowor brown granules; we used Western Blot to quantificationally detect p38MAPK andASK1levels in nucleus pulposus cells, and applied computer image analysis systemto measure the gray values of p38MAPK and ASK1levels in specimens. We utilizedSPSS software to create a database for statistical analysis, and compared thedifferences between p38MAPK and ASK1. [Results]â‘ HE staining showed that with the severity of degeneration, nucleus pulposus cellsin lumbar nucleus pulposus gradually reduced and collagen fibers within matrixthickened and its arrangement were disordered.â‘¡Immunohistochemical stainingrevealed that P38MAPK was present in nucleus and ASK1was diffusely presentaround the nucleus in cytoplasm.â‘¢Western Blot test showed that the average grayvalue of control group, annulus fibrosus complete group and annulus rupture groupgradually increased, and there were significant differences (p <0.01).[Conclusion]1. ASK1plays a role in cytoplasm and p38MAPK plays a role in nucleus.2. With the severity of lumbar disc degeneration, ASK1and p38MAPK levels innucleus pulposus cells will gradually increase.3. ASK1and p38MAPK are positively related to each other in the process of lumbardisc degeneration.4. P38MAPK signaling pathway mediated by ASK1is involved in the process oflumbar disc degeneration and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of LDH.