87. Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 Suppress Production of Cytokines and Catabolic Enzymes Stimulated By IL-1 by Human Intervertebral Disc Cells

Abstract

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There is increasing evidence that the unregulated production of inflammatory cytokines, i.e., interleukin-1 (IL-1), is involved in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) has recently been shown to be effective in restoring the disc height of degenerated IVDs in a rabbit model of disc degeneration. How BMP-7 affects the catabolic pathway and cytokine regulation in pathologic conditions remains unknown. One can predict that the presence of IL-1 may also affect the efficacy of BMP-7 because of changes in BMP receptor expression.