Qi Chen1,2, Longbing Ma1,3, Xi Yang1, Limin Liu1, Yueming Song1. 1. Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, 610041, P. R. China. 2. Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital. 3. Department of Minimally Invasive Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research progress of the regulation effect of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) on intervertebral disc. METHODS: The domestic and foreign related literature about the regulation effect of HIF on intervertebral disc was reviewed, summarized, and analyzed. RESULTS: HIF is a key transcription factor that is in response to hypoxia by cells, which is widely distributed in tissues and organs, including intervertebral disc. Hypoxia inducible factor is expressed highest in the nucleus pulposus which has the lowest oxygen concentration in the intervertebral disc. The effects of HIF include the regulation of nucleus pulposus differentiation and development, maintenance of the survival, energy metabolism, and anabolism of nucleus pulposus cells, and maintenance of the stability of extracellular matrix. CONCLUSIONS: HIF plays a vital role in the development and differentiation of intervertebral disc and maintenance of physiological function, which may become a target for the research of the mechanism and the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research progress of the regulation effect of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) on intervertebral disc. METHODS: The domestic and foreign related literature about the regulation effect of HIF on intervertebral disc was reviewed, summarized, and analyzed. RESULTS: HIF is a key transcription factor that is in response to hypoxia by cells, which is widely distributed in tissues and organs, including intervertebral disc. Hypoxia inducible factor is expressed highest in the nucleus pulposus which has the lowest oxygen concentration in the intervertebral disc. The effects of HIF include the regulation of nucleus pulposus differentiation and development, maintenance of the survival, energy metabolism, and anabolism of nucleus pulposus cells, and maintenance of the stability of extracellular matrix. CONCLUSIONS: HIF plays a vital role in the development and differentiation of intervertebral disc and maintenance of physiological function, which may become a target for the research of the mechanism and the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.