INTRODUCTION: In the present study, we sought to quantify and contrast the secretome and biomechanical properties of the non- @entity1610 (NCD) and @entity1610 ( @entity1610 ) @entity235 intervertebral disc (IVD) nucleus pulposus (NP). METHODS: We used iTRAQ proteomic methods to quantify the secretome of both @entity1610 and NCD NP. Differential levels of proteins detected were further verified using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and proteoglycan extraction in order to evaluate the integrity of the small @entity368 -rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) decorin and biglycan. Additionally, we used robotic biomechanical testing to evaluate the biomechanical properties of spinal motion segments from both @entity1610 and NCD @entity235 . RESULTS: We detected differential levels of decorin, biglycan, and fibronectin, as well as of other important extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins, such as @entity69980 and @entity69981 in the IVD NP obtained from @entity1610 @entity235 compared with NCD @entity235 . The core proteins of the vital SLRPs decorin and biglycan were fragmented in @entity1610 NP but were intact in the NP of the NCD animals. @entity1610 and NCD vertebral motion segments demonstrated significant differences, with the @entity1610 segments having less stiffness and a more varied range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: The @entity1610 NP recapitulates key elements of @entity1 @entity179 . Our data suggest that at least some of the compromised biomechanical properties of the degenerative disc arise from fibrocartilaginous metaplasia of the NP secondary to fragmentation of SLRP core proteins and associated degenerative changes affecting the ECM. This study demonstrates that the degenerative changes that naturally occur within the @entity1610 NP make this animal a valuable animal model with which to study IVD degeneration and potential biological therapeutics.

The biological basis of @entity179 : proteomic and biomechanical analysis of the XXXX intervertebral disc.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity1610 :: ('MESH:D010009', 'Disease') :: ['chondrodystrophic', 'CD'] @entity69981 :: ('488921(Tax:9615)', 'Gene') :: ['HAPLN1'] @entity235 :: ('9615', 'Species') :: ['canine', 'canines'] @entity368 :: ('CHEBI:25017', 'Chemical') :: ['leucine'] @entity69980 :: ('488560(Tax:9615)', 'Gene') :: ['fibromodulin'] @entity179 :: ('MESH:D019636', 'Disease') :: ['degenerative disc disease']
@entity235 :: (9615,Species) :: ['canine']
