PM&R
Volume 1, Issue 6 , Pages 536-540, June 2009

Identification of Candidate Serum Biomarkers for Intervertebral Disk Degeneration in an Animal Model

  • Gwendolyn Sowa, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh; Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 5th Ave, Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15213†
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: G.S.
    • ,
  • Ed Westrick, MD

      Affiliations

    • Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA‡
    • ,
  • Arun G. Rajasekhar, BA

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh; Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA§
    • ,
  • Barrett Woods, MD

      Affiliations

    • Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
    • ,
  • Steven Leckie, MD

      Affiliations

    • Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA∥
    • ,
  • Paulo Coelho, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh; Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA#
    • ,
  • Nam Vo, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA⁎⁎
    • ,
  • Rebecca Studer, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh; VAHS, Pittsburgh, PA††
    • ,
  • James Kang, MD

      Affiliations

    • Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA‡‡

Received 23 January 2009; accepted 28 March 2009.

Objective

To examine serum markers of matrix turnover in an animal model of disk degeneration.

Design

Randomized prospective in vivo study.

Setting

Laboratory for Orthopaedic and Spine Research and Department of Large Animal Research.

Participants

Twenty-one New Zealand White rabbits.

Intervention

Rabbits were randomly grouped into control (n = 8), sham surgery (n = 5), or stab surgery (n = 8). The stab surgical group underwent annulotomy of L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5 to induce intervertebral disk degeneration. The sham surgical group underwent surgical exposure without annulotomy, and the control group received no intervention.

Outcome Measurements

Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serum samples were obtained before intervention and at 0, 3, 6, and 12 weeks thereafter. MRIs were analyzed for evidence of intervertebral disk degeneration via measurement of MRI index. The serum was assayed at 0, 3, 6, and 12 weeks for the aggrecan biosynthesis marker CS846 and the C-telopeptide of collagen II (CTX-II).

Results

The stabbed disks demonstrate degeneration apparent by MRI criteria. CTX-II increased with time in the stabbed group compared to the control and sham surgery groups regardless of baseline levels. Aggrecan showed no statistically significant difference among groups.

Conclusions

CTX-II shows promise as a useful serum biomarker for intervertebral disk degeneration.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 
  • † Disclosure: 8B, North American Spine Society, The Pittsburgh Foundation, NIH, NIDRR, American Geriatrics Society, PASSOR
  • ‡ Disclosure: nothing to disclose
  • § Disclosure: nothing to disclose
  •  Disclosure: nothing to disclose
  • ∥ Disclosure: nothing to disclose
  • # Disclosure: nothing to disclose
  • ⁎⁎ Disclosure: 8B, OREF and AOSPINE grants
  • †† Disclosure: 8B, VA Rehab R&D
  • ‡‡ Disclosure: 8B, Medtronic and J&J

 Supported by The Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports, and Occupational Rehabilitation, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Rehabilitation Research Experience for Medical Students program of the Association of Academic Physiatrists.

 Disclosure Key can be found on the Table of Contents and at www.pmrjournal.org

PII: S1934-1482(09)00383-9

doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2009.03.016

PM&R
Volume 1, Issue 6 , Pages 536-540, June 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution