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Morphologic and molecular evidence for gap junctions and connexin 43 and 45 expression in annulus fibrosus cells from the human intervertebral disc
Author(s) -
Gruber Helen E.,
Ma Defang,
Hanley Edward N.,
Ingram Jane,
Yamaguchi Dean T.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-0266(00)00072-3
Subject(s) - connexin , intervertebral disc , annulus (botany) , microbiology and biotechnology , gap junction , in vitro , biology , intervertebral disk , degeneration (medical) , cell , mechanism (biology) , population , anatomy , pathology , medicine , genetics , physics , intracellular , botany , environmental health , quantum mechanics , lumbar
Data are presented which provide evidence for gap junction formation and connexin (Cx) 43 and 45 gene expression in human intervertebral disc cells in vivo and in vitro. These findings in cells from the annulus are important in conjunction with the well‐recognized loss of disc cells during aging and disc degeneration. As a result of this loss of cells, cell‐cell communication, which we propose is an important, but as yet poorly understood, mechanism which links and coordinates cellular function throughout the entire population of disc cells, is also disrupted. These studies provide additional information on the fundamental cell biology of the disc cell and provide an additional framework for understanding aging, degeneration and potential repair of the human disc. © 2001 Orthopaedic Research Society. Punlished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.