STUDY DESIGN: In vitro experimental studyOBJECTIVE.: To investigate the effect of @entity258 ( @entity258 ) on the extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis of degenerative @entity1 nucleus pulposus cells and explore the molecular mechanism. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: @entity258 has been used successfully for bone @entity174 healing and been proved to be effective in stimulating ECM metabolism in animal intervertebral disc cells. However, whether @entity258 also exerts an anabolic effect on degenerative @entity1 nucleus pulposus cells and the possible molecular mechanism is still unclear. METHODS: The degenerative @entity1 nucleus pulposus cells were cultured in @entity460 alginate beads. In the @entity258 group, cells were exposed to an average temporal intensity of 30mW/cm2 and a frequency of 1.5MHz of @entity258 20 minutes daily for 1 week. The control group was cultured in the same way but without @entity258 stimulation. The @entity2306 group was stimulated by @entity258 and treated with @entity2306 simultaneously. The expression of aggrecan, collagen-II, @entity1935 , tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-,1and matrix metalloproteinase-3 were evaluated by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Western blot or RT-PCR. Expression of signaling proteins involved in @entity3818 / @entity10412 / @entity584 pathway was studied by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: @entity258 significantly upregulated expression of aggrecan, collagen-II, @entity1935 , and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 compared with control group, but inhibited secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-3. The study further demonstrated that the upregulation of aggrecan, collagen-II, and @entity1935 was related to the activation of @entity3818 ( @entity3818 )// @entity10412 / @entity584 pathway caused by @entity258 . Moreover, inhibition of @entity10412 / @entity584 significantly suppressed the special biological effect activated by @entity258 . CONCLUSION: @entity258 promotes the ECM synthesis of degenerative @entity1 nucleus pulposus cells through activation of @entity3818 / @entity10412 / @entity584 pathway. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Promotes the Extracellular Matrix Synthesis of Degenerative @entity1 Nucleus Pulposus Cells Through @entity3818 / @entity10412 / XXXX Pathway.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity174 :: ('MESH:D050723', 'Disease') :: ['fracture'] @entity584 :: ('207', 'Gene') :: ['Akt'] @entity2306 :: ('MESH:C085911', 'Chemical') :: ['LY294002'] @entity10412 :: ('5293', 'Gene') :: ['PI3K'] @entity460 :: ('MESH:D002118', 'Chemical') :: ['calcium'] @entity3818 :: ('5747', 'Gene') :: ['FAK', 'focal adhesion kinase'] @entity258 :: ('MESH:D009800', 'Disease') :: ['LIPUS', 'low-intensity pulsed ultrasound'] @entity1935 :: ('6662', 'Gene') :: ['Sox9']
@entity584 :: (207,Gene) :: ['Akt']
