Premium
Identification of Candidate Serum Biomarkers for Intervertebral Disk Degeneration in an Animal Model
Author(s) -
Sowa Gwendolyn,
Westrick Ed,
Rajasekhar Arun G.,
Woods Barrett,
Leckie Steven,
Coelho Paulo,
Vo Nam,
Studer Rebecca,
Kang James
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2009.03.016
Subject(s) - medicine , degeneration (medical) , aggrecan , intervertebral disc , sham surgery , biomarker , intervertebral disk , magnetic resonance imaging , surgery , pathology , lumbar , radiology , osteoarthritis , biochemistry , alternative medicine , articular cartilage , chemistry
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.