Detection of O-Linked-N-Acetylglucosamine Modification and Its Associated Enzymes in Human Degenerated Intervertebral Discs.
10.4184/asj.2017.11.6.863
- Author:
Georgios NIKOLAOU
1
;
Aristeidis H ZIBIS
;
Apostolos H FYLLOS
;
Antonios KATSIOULIS
;
Sotirios SOTIRIOU
;
Anastasios KOTROTSIOS
;
Markos SGANTZOS
;
Aikaterini VASSIOU
;
Dimitrios L ARVANITIS
Author Information
1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece. ahzibis@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Spine;
Enzymes;
Intervertebral disc degeneration;
Immunohistochemistry
- MeSH:
Apoptosis;
Chondrocytes;
Chronic Disease;
Cytoplasm;
Diskectomy;
Formaldehyde;
Humans*;
Immunohistochemistry;
In Vitro Techniques;
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration;
Intervertebral Disc Displacement;
Intervertebral Disc*;
Mitochondrial Proteins;
Nuclear Proteins;
Paraffin;
Protein Processing, Post-Translational;
Spine;
Transferases
- From:Asian Spine Journal
2017;11(6):863-869
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
STUDY DESIGN: Human herniated discs were obtained from discectomy specimens for the immunohistochemical detection of O-GlcNAc and O-GlcNAcase (OGA)/O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). PURPOSE: This study aimed to quantify the extent of O-GlcNAcylation and its associated enzymes (OGT/OGA) in human degenerated intervertebral discs. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The O-GlcNAcylation of nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial proteins as well as the effects of such post-translational modifications are currently the focus of extensive research. O-GlcNAcylation is believed to contribute to the etiology of chronic illnesses by acting as a nutrient and stress sensor in the cellular environment. Mature intervertebral disc cells are chondrocyte-like cells, and O-GlcNAc has been shown to promote chondrocyte apoptosis in vitro. We believe that O-GlcNAcylation is a key regulator of disc degeneration. METHODS: Fifty-six specimens were fixed for 24 hours in a 10% solution of neutral-buffered formaldehyde, dehydrated, and embedded in paraffin. Tissue slices (4-µm-thick) were used for hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We found that O-GlcNAcylation of cytoplasmic proteins was less than that of nuclear proteins in both single cells and cell clusters. Cytoplasmic O-GlcNAcylation occurs subsequent to nuclear O-GlcNAcylation and is directly proportional to disc degeneration. OGT and O-GlcNAc expression levels were identical in all specimens examined. CONCLUSIONS: O-GlcNAc and OGA/OGT expression is shown to correlate for the first time with intervertebral disc cell degeneration. Increasing disc degeneration is associated with increasing O-GlcNAcylation in both nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins in human disc cells.
