Neurotrophic factors for the treatment of low back pain

• Project/Area Number: 23592175
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Chiba University (2014); Toho University (2011-2013)
• Principal Investigator: AOKI Yasuchika 千葉大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 特任教授 (70584001)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OHTORI Seiji 千葉大学, 大学院医学研究院, 准教授 (40361430) ; NAKAGAWA Koichi 東邦大学, 医学部, 教授 (30400823) ; NAKAJIMA Arata 東邦大学, 医学部, 准教授 (60583995)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: 椎間板 / 神経栄養因子 / 腰痛

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The protein levels of NGF and BDNF in discs from patients with disc herniation and hose from discs of patients with other lumbar degenerative disc diseases were examined. Nucleus pulposus tissue (or herniated disc tissue) was surgically removed and homogenized; protein levels were quantified using ELISAs for NGF and BDNF. Levels of NGF and BDNF in the discs were compared between 1) patients with disc herniation and those with other lumbar degenerative disc diseases, 2) patients with back pain and those with slight or no back pain, and 3) moderately degenerated discs and severely degenerated discs. Mean levels of NGF and BDNF in discs of patients were: NGF (herniation: 83.4; others: 64.8, pg/mg total protein); BDNF (herniation: 36.5: others 16.2, pg/mg total protein). Herniated discs showed significantly higher levels of NGF and BDNF (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between patients with and without back pain, or between moderately and severely degenerated discs.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Increase of nerve growth factor levels in the human herniated intervertebral disc: can annular rupture trigger discogenic back pain? (2014)
  • Author(s): Aoki Y, Nakajima A, Ohtori S, Takahashi H, Watanabe F, Sonobe M, Terajima F, Saito M, Takahashi K, Toyone T, Watanabe A, Nakajima T, Takazawa M, Nakagawa K.
  • Journal Title: Arthritis Research ＆Therapy Volume: １６－４ Issue: 4
  • DOI: 10.1186/ar4674
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Phosphorylated neurofilament subunit NF-H becomes elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acutely worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy: a pilot cross-sectional study in humans (2014)
  • Author(s): Takahashi H, Aoki Y, Nakajima A, Sonobe M, Terajima F, Saito M, Taniguchi S, Yamada M, Watanabe F, Furuya T, Koda M, Yamazaki M, Takahashi K, Nakagawa K.
  • Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Neuroscience Volume: 21
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Discogenic Pain（椎間板性腰痛）およびModic Changeの基礎. (2013)
  • Author(s): 青木保親、中川晃一、中島新、大鳥精司、高橋和久
  • Journal Title: 臨床スポーツ医学 Volume: 30 Pages: 707-14
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] IκB kinase β inhibitor downregulates pain-related neuropeptide production in the sensory neurons innervating injured lumbar intervertebral discs in the dorsal root ganglia of rats. (2013)
  • Author(s): Orita S, Miyagi M, Kobori S, Gemba T, Ishikawa T, Inoue G, Toyone T, Aoki Y, Eguchi Y, Takahashi K, Ohtori S.
  • Journal Title: Spine Journal Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Pages: 284-8
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2013.01.020
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Tumor necrosis factor-α-immunoreactive cells in nucleus pulposus in adolescent patients with lumbar disc herniation (2013)
  • Author(s): Seiji Ohtori
  • Journal Title: Spine Volume: ３８ Issue: 6 Pages: 459-62
  • DOI: 10.1097/brs.0b013e3182739cb4
  • NAID: 10031169965
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Evaluation of Nonspecific Low Back Pain Using a New Detailed Visual Analogue Scale for Patients (2012)
  • Author(s): Yasuchika Aoki
  • Journal Title: Pain Research and Treatment Volume: 2012 Pages: 1-4
  • DOI: 10.1155/2012/680496
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Unilateral Pedicle Screw and One Cage Versus Bilateral Pedicle Screw and Two Cages in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Spondylolisthesis (2012)
  • Author(s): Yasuchika Aoki
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neurosurgery Spine Volume: １７ Issue: 2 Pages: 153-59
  • DOI: 10.3171/2012.5.spine111044
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Increased levels of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in human herniated intervertebral discs. (2014)
  • Author(s): Aoki Y, Nakajima A, Watanabe F, Sonobe M, Terajima F, Takahashi H, Taniguchi S, Yamada M, Takahashi K, Ohtori S, Nakagawa K.
  • Organizer: 41st International Society for the study of the Lumbar Spine
  • Place of Presentation: Seoul, Korea
  • Year and Date: 2014-06-03 – 2014-06-07
• [Presentation] 腰椎変性疾患患者の椎間板内NGF、BDNF発現量は症候性椎間板断裂、椎間板変性度、腰痛強度と関連しているか？
  • Author(s): 青木保親、中川晃一、中島新、園部正人、柴田孝史、高橋宏、谷口慎治、大鳥精司、高橋和久
  • Organizer: 第28回日本整形外科学会基礎学術集会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張メッセ国際会議場（千葉県千葉市）
• [Presentation] 脳脊髄液中ｐNFHの発現は圧迫性脊髄症急性増悪時に上昇する
  • Author(s): 高橋宏、青木保親、寺島史明、中島新、園部正人、斉藤雅彦、谷口慎治、山田学、古矢文雄、国府田正雄、高橋和久、中川晃一
  • Organizer: 第43回日本脊椎脊髄病学会学術集会
  • Place of Presentation: 国立京都国際会館（京都府京都市）
• [Presentation] Increased levels of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in human herniated intervertebral discs
  • Author(s): Aoki Y, Nakajima A, Watanabe F, Sonobe M, Terajima F, Takahashi H, Taniguchi S, Yamada M, Takahashi K, Ohtori S, Nakagawa K.
  • Organizer: 41st International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine
  • Place of Presentation: Yonsei University (韓国ソウル市）