The gene expression of different integrin subunits in rat nucleus pulposus cells under periodic mechanical stress

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the gene expression of different integrinsubunits in rat nucleus pulposus cells under periodic mechanical stress.Methods Nucleus pulposus cells obtained from intervetebral disc cells of 4-week-old rats were planted on glass slides.All slides were randomized into two groups:the control group and the stress group.The cells in the stress group were cultured under periodic mechanical stress (0-200 kPa,0.1 Hz) for 6 h,then the gene expression of type Ⅱ collagen,aggrecan and different integrin subunits was detected by using real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR).Results The gene expression levels of typeⅡ collagen,aggrecan and integin α1 were upgraded to 5.04,4.52 and 1.71 times higher in stress group than in control group respectively (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Periodic mechanical stress can promote the metabolism of rat nucleus pulposus cells.Integrin α1 may play important roles in the mechanical transductions. Key words: Integrins; Periodic mechanical stress; Nucleus pulposus cell