Aim: To evaluate and compare the mRNA expression of antioxidant genes between the cervical and lumbar degenerated disc tissues.
Material and Methods: Obtained degenerated Nucleus Pulposus (DNP) materials were divided into two groups, which were cervical DNP (Group I) (n=20) and lumbar DNP (Group II) (n=20). There are 6 men and 14 women in group I with a mean age of 43.8 years and 13 men and 7 women in group II with the mean age of 40.3 years (28 to 54). All cervical DNP materials were obtained between C5 and C6 and all lumbar DNP materials were obtained between L4 and L5 levels. The TGFβ1, bFGF, IGF-1, NGF and Matrix metalloprotease III (MMP III) gene expressions of DNP materials were determined by polymerase chain reaction, Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting techniques.Results: When the results of the two groups were compared by polymerase chain reaction, the expressions of TGFβ1, bFGF, IGF-1, NGF and MMP III was found lower in lumbar DNP group. Also the TGFβ1, bFGF, IGF-1, NGF, and Matrix metalloprotease III genes showed a decrease in gene expression levels when they were analyzed by Real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Conclusion: These data showed that; decrease of the TGFβ1, bFGF, IGF-1, NGF and MMP III genes in the degenerated lumbar disc tissues, may related with the possibility of molecular background of the disease pathogenesis.
Key words: Degenerated Nucleus Pulposus; mRNA Expression; Cervical, Lumbar.
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