Analysis Of Gene Expression Pattern Of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration In Humans

Objective: This study is to investigate the gene expression changes in normal and degenerated lumbar intervertebral disc in humans, and to provide some information for clinical application.Methods: 1. The PCR products of 4096 human genes were spotted onto a kind of chemical-material-coated-glass slides. The total RNAs were isolated from the tissues. The mRNAs from both degenerated and normal lumbar intervertebral disc in humans were reversely transcribed to the cDNAs. To prepare hybridization probes, the cDNAs were incorporated with fluorescent dUTP. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the cDNA microarray. After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent ' signals and analyzed by computer image analysis. 2. The apoptic status and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in 3 cases of degenerative and normal lumbar intervertebral disc were detected by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling and immunohistochemistry methods.Results: Among the 4096 targets, 706 gene expressions were differed between the degenerated and normal lumbar intervertebral discs, comprising 298 up-regulated and 358 down-regulated ones. The average apoptotic index in degenerative lumbar intervetebral was significantly higher than that of normal cases. The expression of Bal-2 and Bax protein were found in the chondrocytes of lumbar intervertebral disc tissues. The expression rate of Bcl-2 in normal lumbar intervertebral disc was significantly higher than that of normal cases. The expression rate of Bax in normal lumbar intervertebral disc was significantly lower than that of normal cases.Conclusion: DNA microarray technology is an effective technique in screening for differentially expressed genes between the degenerated and normal lumbar intervertebral disc. Cell apoptosis may plays an important role in the process of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Both Bal-2 and Bax take part in the occurrence and progression of lumbar intervetebral disc degeneration.