Effect of varying osmotic conditions on the response of bovine nucleus pulposus cells to growth factors and the activation of the ERK and Akt pathways.

Intervertebral disc and especially nucleus pulposus is characterized by low cellularity. Additionally, extreme variations in osmolality are observed in this tissue, as a result of its specific physicochemical environment, daily activities, or degeneration. In this study, we investigated the role of osmotic fluctuations in the proliferative response of nucleus pulposus cells to exogenous growth factors. In particular, we examined the effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the proliferation of bovine nucleus pulposus cells and on the activation of the MEK/ERK and PI-3-K/Akt pathways under varying osmotic conditions, in an effort to understand the mechanisms regulating cell proliferation in the intact and the degenerated intervertebral disc. Exposure of cells to high osmolality restrained novel DNA synthesis induced by PDGF or IGF-I in a dose-dependent manner and reduced ERK and Akt activation stimulated by serum or isolated growth factors. Our findings indicate that hyperosmolality imposes a strict control in intervertebral disc cells' proliferation, while hypo-osmotic conditions prevailing in degenerated discs may offer a more permissive environment for cellular proliferation. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:1276-1282, 2010.