Grivas, Theodoros B

Kaspiris, A

Khaldi, L

Kletsas, D

Vasiliadis, E

English

PubMed

Theodoros B Grivas

E Vasiliadis

L Khaldi

A Kaspiris

D Kletsas

Springer - Publisher Connector

ORAL PRESENTATION Open Access
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) in the rat
scoliotic intervertebral disc
Theodoros B Grivas*, E Vasiliadis, L Khaldi, A Kaspiris, D Kletsas
From 7th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities
Montreal, Canada. 20-22 May 2010
Introduction – aim
The response of the intervertebral disc to asymmetric
forces may accelerate degeneration through changes in
the matrix. At a macroscopic level the disc sustains
structural changes which may play a role in the progres-
sion of a scoliotic curve. At a molecular level, disc
degeneration is the outcome of the action of matrix
metalloproteases (MMPs), members of a family of
enzymes responsible for the degradation of extracellular
matrix components. In the present experimental study
we measured in vivo the expression of MMP’s in a rat
scoliotic intervertebral disc and studied the impact of
the degree of the deformity on their production.
Material – methods
Asymmetric forces were applied in the intervertebral disc
between the 9th and 10th vertebrae at the base of a rat
tail with the use of a mini Ilizarov external fixator, under
anesthesia. Animals were categorized into three groups
according to the degree of the deformity. In group I, the
deformity which was applied on the intervertebral disc
was 10C, in group II 30C and in group III 50C. All the ani-
mals used were female Wistar rats before adulthood, in
order to take into account the impact of growth for the
study of intervertebral disc changes. The intact interver-
tebral discs outside of the fixator were used as controls.
After rats’ sacrifice on 35th day, the tails were prepared
and analysed using an immunohistochemical protocol for
chromogenic detection and location of MMP’s 1, and 12
in tissue sections of the intervertebral discs.
Results
An increase of the concentration of the MMP’s was
found in all groups compared with the controls. The
quantity of the MMP’s increased as the degree of the
deformity progressed. MMP’s were detected mainly in
fibrocartilage cells of the degenerative part of which
were formed as result of the compression forces. A dif-
ferentiation of a large number of disc cells into chon-
drocytes was observed at the transitional zone of the
intervertebral disc adjacent to the vertebral end plates.
Conclusion
The application of asymmetric forces on the interverteb-
ral discs of a rat tail results in an increase of MMP’s
expression in the disc cells. The amount of MMP’s pro-
duced is proportional to the degree of the deformity and
has an asymmetrical pattern of distribution into the
intervertebral disc.
Published: 10 September 2010
doi:10.1186/1748-7161-5-S1-O18
Cite this article as: Grivas et al.: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) in
the rat scoliotic intervertebral disc . Scoliosis 2010 5(Suppl 1):O18.
Submit your next manuscript to BioMed Central
and take full advantage of: 
• Convenient online submission
• Thorough peer review
• No space constraints or color figure charges
• Immediate publication on acceptance
• Inclusion in PubMed, CAS, Scopus and Google Scholar
• Research which is freely available for redistribution
Submit your manuscript at 
www.biomedcentral.com/submit
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, “Tzanio” General Hospital of
Piraeus, Greece
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Grivas et al. Scoliosis 2010, 5(Suppl 1):O18
http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/5/S1/O18
© 2010 Grivas et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.


Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) in the rat scoliotic intervertebral disc

Crossref

ORAL PRESENTATION Open AccessMatrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) in the ratscoliotic intervertebral discTheodoros B Grivas*, E Vasiliadis, L Khaldi, A Kaspiris, D KletsasFrom 7th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal DeformitiesMontreal, Canada. 20-22 May 2010Introduction – aimThe response of the intervertebral disc to asymmetricforces may accelerate degeneration through changes inthe matrix. At a macroscopic level the disc sustainsstructural changes which may play a role in the progres-sion of a scoliotic curve. At a molecular level, discdegeneration is the outcome of the action of matrixmetalloproteases (MMPs), members of a family ofenzymes responsible for the degradation of extracellularmatrix components. In the present experimental studywe measured in vivo the expression of MMP’s in a ratscoliotic intervertebral disc and studied the impact ofthe degree of the deformity on their production.Material – methodsAsymmetric forces were applied in the intervertebral discbetween the 9th and 10th vertebrae at the base of a rattail with the use of a mini Ilizarov external fixator, underanesthesia. Animals were categorized into three groupsaccording to the degree of the deformity. In group I, thedeformity which was applied on the intervertebral discwas 10C, in group II 30C and in group III 50C. All the ani-mals used were female Wistar rats before adulthood, inorder to take into account the impact of growth for thestudy of intervertebral disc changes. The intact interver-tebral discs outside of the fixator were used as controls.After rats’ sacrifice on 35th day, the tails were preparedand analysed using an immunohistochemical protocol forchromogenic detection and location of MMP’s 1, and 12in tissue sections of the intervertebral discs.ResultsAn increase of the concentration of the MMP’s wasfound in all groups compared with the controls. Thequantity of the MMP’s increased as the degree of thedeformity progressed. MMP’s were detected mainly infibrocartilage cells of the degenerative part of whichwere formed as result of the compression forces. A dif-ferentiation of a large number of disc cells into chon-drocytes was observed at the transitional zone of theintervertebral disc adjacent to the vertebral end plates.ConclusionThe application of asymmetric forces on the interverteb-ral discs of a rat tail results in an increase of MMP’sexpression in the disc cells. The amount of MMP’s pro-duced is proportional to the degree of the deformity andhas an asymmetrical pattern of distribution into theintervertebral disc.Published: 10 September 2010doi:10.1186/1748-7161-5-S1-O18Cite this article as: Grivas et al.: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) inthe rat scoliotic intervertebral disc . Scoliosis 2010 5(Suppl 1):O18.Submit your next manuscript to BioMed Centraland take full advantage of: • Convenient online submission• Thorough peer review• No space constraints or color figure charges• Immediate publication on acceptance• Inclusion in PubMed, CAS, Scopus and Google Scholar• Research which is freely available for redistributionSubmit your manuscript at www.biomedcentral.com/submitDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedics, “Tzanio” General Hospital ofPiraeus, GreeceFull list of author information is available at the end of the articleGrivas et al. Scoliosis 2010, 5(Suppl 1):O18http://www.scoliosisjournal.com/content/5/S1/O18© 2010 Grivas et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP’s) in the rat scoliotic intervertebral disc

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