Effect of high-expression HOXB4 on human cartilage endplate stem cells and its significance

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect and significance of high-expression HOXB4 in controlling proliferation and cycle of human cartilage endplate stem cells (CESCs).Methods CESCs were divided into adenovirus-mediated HOXB4 delivery group (Group A),empty virus delivery group (Group B) and blank control group.Gene and protein expressions of HOXB4 in Group A were detected by PCR and Western blot respectively; cell proliferation among those groups were determined using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) technique; cell cycle among those groups was measured by propidium iodide (PI) assay and flow cytometry.Results (1) Over-expressed HOXB4 virus was transferred to CESCs successfully; (2) Real-time quantitative PCR results showed 3.6 times higher expression of HOXB4 in Group A than in blank control group.Western blotting indicated HOXB4 protein in Group A was 3 times the level in control group; (3) HOXB4 promoted CESCs proliferation (P ＜ 0.05) and blocked the cells at phase S.Cells at phase S in Group A was increased from 29.27 to 30.28 (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Over-expressed HOXB4 accelerates proliferation of CESCs and increases cell population at phase S,indicating that HOXB4 hindering CESCs degeneration may be an approach to treat lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. Key words: Intervertebral disc; Cartilage; Stem cells