H. Haro et al., SEQUENTIAL DYNAMICS OF MONOCYTE CHEMOTACTIC PROTEIN-1 EXPRESSION IN HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS RESORPTION, Journal of orthopaedic research, 15(5), 1997, pp. 734-741
We previously demonstrated that the granulation tissues of herniated n
ucleus pulposus are composed of a marked infiltration of macrophages t
hat strongly express monocyte chemotactic protein-1. Monocyte chemotac
tic protein-1 is a chemotactic cytokine that contributes to the activa
tion and recruitment of macrophages. Relatively little is known about
its role in the resorption process of herniated nucleus pulposus. To c
larify the sequential dynamics of expression of monocyte chemotactic p
rotein-1 in the granulation tissues of herniated nucleus pulposus, we
introduced a rat autologous transplantation model of nuclear materials
onto its lumbar dura mater and performed immunohistological analysis
and competitive polymerase chain reaction assay using the grafted samp
les. Immunohistological analysis demonstrated that the majority of inf
iltrating mononuclear cells expressed monocyte chemotactic protein-1,
Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 mRNA was expressed in the first 3 weeks
after the procedure and was significantly and maximally upregulated a
t 1 week, To determine whether human recombinant monocyte chemotactic
protein-1 facilitates the resorption process of herniated nucleus pulp
osus, we introduced another model of autologous transplantation, where
in the nuclear materials were grafted to the abdominal subcutaneous ti
ssues and recombinant monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was subsequently
applied to these materials, When monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was in
jected into the murine nucleus pulposus tissues, they reduced in size
more rapidly than in the control group. These findings suggest that mo
nocyte chemotactic protein-1 plays all important rule in the recruitme
nt of macrophages in the early phase of the resorption process of hern
iated nucleus pulposus and that its application may physiologically fa
cilitate the resorption process of the nucleus pulposus.