TITLE:
Vitamin D Receptor Expression in Lumbar Disc Degeneration Patients
AUTHORS:
Mahmoud M. Taha, Norhan A. Sabbah, Noha A. Rezk, Hosam Mansour
KEYWORDS:
Lumbar Disc, Vitamin D, Degeneration, Polymorphism, PCR
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery,
Vol.7 No.2,
April
13,
2017
ABSTRACT: Background: Lumbar disc degeneration [LDD] is the main cause of low back pain, and is
a medical circumstance that poses a great load on the global health care system
with serious socioeconomic consequences. The aim of this study was to determine
the association of vitamin D receptors (VDR) gene Fok1 polymorphism, VDR
expression and vitamin D level with LDD susceptibility and severity in
Egyptians. Materials and methods: A total of unrelated 169 female patients with low back pain diagnosed as
having lumbar disc degeneration and 169 controls were enrolled in the study.
VDR Fok1 polymorphism was determined using restriction fragment length
polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction [PCR-RFLP]. VDR expression was measured by
reverse transcriptase PCR, while, serum levels of vitamin D were measured by high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. Results: Subjects with VDR Fok1 ff genotype were significantly more likely to
develop LDD in Egyptians and associated with multilevel disc degeneration and
disc herniation (adjusted OR = 7.9, 95% CI = 2.3-26.6 and P = 0.01) and (adjusted OR = 2.2,
95% CI = 1.6-3.7 and P = 0.031) respectively. VDR expression and vitamin D
levels were significantly decreased in LDD patients and with multilevel disc
degeneration and herniation, (adjusted P = 0.042
and adjusted P = 0.028) respectively. Conclusion: VDR Fok1 mutant alleles and genotypes are associated with the development
and severity of LDD in Egyptians. Also, VDR expression and vitamin D level
could be the marker for monitoring LDD.