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Journal article
Degeneration alters structure-function relationships at multiple length-scales and across interfaces in human intervertebral discs
Journal of anatomy, v 238(4), pp 986-998
01 Apr 2021
PMID: 33205444
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and associated back pain place a significant burden on the population. IVD degeneration is a progressive cascade of cellular, compositional, and structural changes, which results in a loss of disc height, disorganization of extracellular matrix architecture, tears in the annulus fibrosus which may involve herniation of the nucleus pulposus, and remodeling of the bony and cartilaginous endplates (CEP). These changes to the IVD often occur concomitantly, across the entire motion segment from the disc subcomponents to the CEP and vertebral bone, making it difficult to determine the causal initiating factor of degeneration. Furthermore, assessments of the subcomponents of the IVD have been largely qualitative, with most studies focusing on a single attribute, rather than multiple adjacent IVD substructures. The objective of this study was to perform a multiscale and multimodal analysis of human lumbar motion segments across various length scales and degrees of degeneration. We performed multiple assays on every sample and identified several correlations between structural and functional measurements of disc subcomponents. Our results demonstrate that with increasing Pfirrmann grade there is a reduction in disc height and nucleus pulposus T2 relaxation time, in addition to alterations in motion segment macromechanical function, disc matrix composition and cellular morphology. At the cartilage endplate-vertebral bone interface, substantial remodeling was observed coinciding with alterations in micromechanical properties. Finally, we report significant relationships between vertebral bone and nucleus pulposus metrics, as well as between micromechanical properties of the endplate and whole motion segment biomechanical parameters, indicating the importance of studying IVD degeneration as a whole organ.
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Details
- Title
- Degeneration alters structure-function relationships at multiple length-scales and across interfaces in human intervertebral discs
- Creators
- Beth G. Ashinsky - Drexel UniversitySarah E. Gullbrand - Univ Penn, Dept Orthopaed Surg, McKay Orthopaed Res Lab, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USAChao Wang - Drexel UniversityEdward D. Bonnevie - University of PennsylvaniaLin Han - Drexel Univ, Sch Biomed Engn Sci & Hlth Syst, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USARobert L. Mauck - University of PennsylvaniaHarvey E. Smith - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Journal of anatomy, v 238(4), pp 986-998
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- F30AG060670 / National Institute on Aging; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA) F32-AR-072478 / National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases (NIAMS) P30 AR069619 / Penn Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders I01 RX001321; I01 RX002274; IK1 RX002445; IK2 RX001476; IK6 RX003416; IK2 RX003118 / U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000589879400001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85096785058
- Other Identifier
- 991019168439604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Anatomy & Morphology