The cytokine and chemokine expression profile of nucleus pulposus cells: implications for degeneration and regeneration of the intervertebral disc.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of these studies were to identify the cytokine and chemokine expression profile of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and to determine the relationships between NP cell cytokine and chemokine production and the characteristic tissue changes seen during intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. METHODS: Real-time q-PCR cDNA Low Density Array (LDA) was used to investigate the expression of 91 cytokine and chemokine associated genes in NP cells from degenerate human IVDs. Further real-time q-PCR was used to investigate 30 selected cytokine and chemokine associated genes in NP cells from non-degenerate and degenerate IVDs and those from IVDs with immune cell infiltrates ('infiltrated'). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for four selected cytokines and chemokines to confirm and localize protein expression in human NP tissue samples. RESULTS: LDA identified the expression of numerous cytokine and chemokine associated genes including 15 novel cytokines and chemokines. Further q-PCR gene expression studies identified differential expression patterns in NP cells derived from non-degenerate, degenerate and infiltrated IVDs. IHC confirmed NP cells as a source of IL-16, CCL2, CCL7 and CXCL8 and that protein expression of CCL2, CCL7 and CXCL8 increases concordant with histological degenerative tissue changes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicates that NP cells are a source of cytokines and chemokines within the IVD and that these expression patterns are altered in IVD pathology. These findings may be important for the correct assessment of the 'degenerate niche' prior to autologous or allogeneic cell transplantation for biological therapy of the degenerate IVD.

Inflammatory cytokines induce NOTCH signaling in nucleus pulposus cells: implications in intervertebral disc degeneration.

The objective of the study was to investigate how inflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß, and TNF-α control NOTCH signaling activity in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. An increase in expression of selective NOTCH receptors (NOTCH1 and -2), ligand (JAGGED2), and target genes (HES1, HEY1, and HEY2) was observed in NP cells following cytokine treatment. A concomitant increase in NOTCH signaling as evidenced by induction in activity of target gene HES1 and HEY1 promoters and reporter 12xCSL was seen. Moreover, treatment increased activity of a 2-kb NOTCH2 promoter. Treatment of cells with NF-κB and MAPK inhibitors abolished the inductive effect of cytokines on NOTCH2 promoter and its expression. Gain and loss-of-function studies confirmed the inductive effect of p65 on NOTCH2 promoter activity. In contrast, p50 blocked the cytokine induction of promoter activity. Supporting promoter studies, lentiviral delivery of sh-p65, and sh-IKKß significantly decreased cytokine dependent change in NOTCH2 expression. Interestingly, MAPK signaling showed an isoform-specific control of NOTCH2 promoter; p38α/ß2/δ, ERK1, and ERK2 contributed to cytokine dependent induction, whereas p38γ played no role. Analysis of human NP tissues showed that NOTCH1 and -2 and HEY2 expression correlated with each other. Moreover, expression of NOTCH2 and IL-1ß as well as the number of cells immunopositive for NOTCH2 significantly increased in histologically degenerate discs compared with non-degenerate discs. Taken together, these results explain the observed dysregulated expression of NOTCH genes in degenerative disc disease. Thus, controlling IL-1ß and TNF-α activities during disc disease may restore NOTCH signaling and nucleus pulposus cell function.

Tumor necrosis factor α- and interleukin-1ß-dependent induction of CCL3 expression by nucleus pulposus cells promotes macrophage migration through CCR1.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) regulation of CCL3 expression in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and in macrophage migration. METHODS: Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to measure CCL3 expression in NP cells. Transfections were used to determine the role of NF-κB, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBPß), and MAPK on cytokine-mediated CCL3 promoter activity. The effect of NP-conditioned medium on macrophage migration was measured using a Transwell system. RESULTS: An increase in CCL3 expression and promoter activity was observed in NP cells after TNFα or IL-1ß treatment. Treatment of cells with NF-κB and MAPK inhibitors abolished the effect of the cytokines on CCL3 expression. The inductive effect of p65 and C/EBPß on the CCL3 promoter was confirmed through gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies. Notably, cotransfection with p50 completely blocked cytokine- and p65-dependent induction. In contrast, c-Rel and RelB had little effect on promoter activity. Lentiviral transduction with short hairpin RNA for p65 (shp65) and shIKKß significantly decreased the TNFα-dependent increase in CCL3 expression. Analysis of degenerated human NP tissue samples showed that CCL3, but not CCL4, expression correlated positively with the grade of tissue degeneration. Importantly, treatment of macrophages with conditioned medium of NP cells treated with TNFα or IL-1ß promoted their migration. Pretreatment of macrophages with an antagonist of CCR1, the primary receptor for CCL3 and CCL4, blocked cytokine-mediated migration. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that TNFα and IL-1ß modulate the expression of CCL3 in NP cells by controlling the activation of MAPK, NF-κB, and C/EBPß signaling. The CCL3-CCR1 axis may play an important role in promoting macrophage infiltration in degenerated, herniated discs.