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A SNP in the 5′UTR of GDF5 is associated with susceptibility to symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the Chinese Han population

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study is to assess whether the single nucleotide polymorphism in the GDF5 (+104T/C; rs143383) is associated with the symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the Chinese Han population and the identification of the mechanisms of its action.

Methods

This study consisted of 231 patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation as the case group and 370 patients who had a lifetime lack of symptoms as the control group. PCR products were genotyped. Thirty-eight disc specimens derived from the cases were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. The stain intensity of immunohistochemistry was quantified using a computerized image analysis system.

Results

Significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies were found between case group and control group (TT genotype P < 0.001; CC genotype P = 0.002; T allele P < 0.001). The T allele was more frequent in the case group regardless of gender (Female P = 0.018; Male P < 0.001). Significant differences were found in the genotype frequencies when stratified by gender except the comparison between the CC genotype and other genotypes combined among the female samples (P > 0.05). A semi-quantification of collagen protein in the nucleus pulposus showed that the average collagen protein content in TC group was higher than in TT group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our results suggested that the GDF5 polymorphism is associated with a susceptibility to symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the Chinese Han population and type II collagen in the nucleus pulposus may be a key factor in susceptibility to symptomatic lumbar disc herniation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Liberation Army (01L005).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The 425th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Sanya, China

    Jihong Mu

  2. The 534th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Luoyang, China

    Weiming Ge

  3. Institute of Military Training Related Medical Sciences, The 150th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Luoyang, 471032, China

    Xincheng Zuo, Yuxuan Chen & Changlin Huang

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  1. Jihong Mu
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  2. Weiming Ge
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  3. Xincheng Zuo
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  4. Yuxuan Chen
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  5. Changlin Huang
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Correspondence to Changlin Huang.

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Mu, J., Ge, W., Zuo, X. et al. A SNP in the 5′UTR of GDF5 is associated with susceptibility to symptomatic lumbar disc herniation in the Chinese Han population. Eur Spine J 23, 498–503 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-3059-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-3059-z

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