Effect of vertebroplasty filler materials on viability and gene expression of human nucleus pulposus cells

• DOI: 10.1002/jor.20532
• Publication Date: 2008-01-05T20:46:37Z
• Authors: Áron Lazáry; Gábor Speer; Péter Pál Varga; Bernadett Balla; Krisztián Bácsi; János P. Kósa; Zsolt Nagy; István Takács; Péter Lakatos
• Keywords: Aggrecan; Calcium phosphate cement; Viability assay; Bone cement

Abstract Consequences of intradiscal cement leakage—often occurring after vertebral augmentation for the treatment compression fractures—are still unknown. In this study, we have investigated influences vertebroplasty filler materials (polymethylmethacrylate‐, calcium phosphate‐ and sulfate‐based bone cement) on isolated nucleus pulposus cells. Cell viability cultured human cells were measured with materials. Gene expression profile selected genes was determined quantitative real‐time PCR. The widely used polymethylmethacrylate phosphate significantly decreased cell number in a dose‐ time‐dependent manner while sulfate affected less. Expression involved matrix metabolism pulposus—aggrecan, collagens, small proteoglycans—as well as important transcription factors also changed due to (e.g., 2.5‐fold decrease aggrecan cultures treatment). Our results suggest that materials—depending type applied material—can accelerate degeneration resulting less flexible disc case leakage. This process may increase risk subsequent new fracture, main complication augmentation. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:601–607,