AUTHOR=Krupkova Olga , Sadowska Aleksandra , Kameda Takuya , Hitzl Wolfgang , Hausmann Oliver Nic , Klasen Juergen , Wuertz-Kozak Karin TITLE=p38 MAPK Facilitates Crosstalk Between Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and IL-6 Release in the Intervertebral Disc JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2018 YEAR=2018 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01706 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2018.01706 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=
Degenerative disc disease is associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the intervertebral disc (IVD). However, it is not completely clear how inflammation arises in the IVD and which cellular compartments are involved in this process. Recently, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has emerged as a possible modulator of inflammation in age-related disorders. In addition, ER stress has been associated with the microenvironment of degenerated IVDs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of ER stress on inflammatory responses in degenerated human IVDs and associated molecular mechanisms. Gene expression of ER stress marker GRP78 and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α was analyzed in human surgical IVD samples (