Paraspinal muscle gene expression across different aetiologies in individuals undergoing surgery for lumbar spine pathology

• Published in: European spine journal 2023-04, Vol.32 (4), p.1123-1131
• Main Authors: Ordaz, Angel, Anderson, Brad, Zlomislic, Vinko, Allen, R. Todd, Garfin, Steven R., Schuepbach, Regula, Farshad, Mazda, Schenk, Simon, Ward, Samuel R., Shahidi, Bahar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopsy; Bone surgery; Gene Expression; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - diagnostic imaging; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - genetics; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - surgery; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - complications; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - genetics; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - surgery; Intervertebral discs; Joint Diseases; Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - adverse effects; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Original Article; Paraspinal Muscles - diagnostic imaging; Paraspinal Muscles - pathology; Skeletal muscle; Spine (lumbar); Spondylolisthesis; Spondylolisthesis - diagnostic imaging; Spondylolisthesis - genetics; Spondylolisthesis - surgery; Surgical Orthopedics
• ISSN: 0940-6719; 1432-0932
• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-023-07543-5

Purpose The purpose of this study was to understand potential baseline transcriptional expression differences in paraspinal skeletal muscle from patients with different underlying lumbar pathologies by comparing multifidus gene expression profiles across individuals with either disc herniation, facet arthropathy, or degenerative spondylolisthesis. Methods Multifidus biopsies were obtained from patients ( n  = 44) undergoing lumbar surgery for either disc herniation, facet arthropathy, or degenerative spondylolisthesis. Diagnostic categories were based on magnetic resonance images, radiology reports, and intraoperative reports. Gene expression for 42 genes was analysed using qPCR. A one-way analysis of variance was performed for each gene to determine differences in expression across diagnostic groups. Corrections for multiple comparisons across genes (Benjamini–Hochberg) and for between-group post hoc comparisons (Sidak) were applied. Results Adipogenic gene (ADIPOQ) expression was higher in the disc herniation group when compared to the facet arthropathy group ( p  = 0.032). Adipogenic gene (PPARD) expression was higher in the degenerative spondylolisthesis group when compared to the disc herniation group ( p  = 0.013), although absolute gene expression levels for all groups was low. Fibrogenic gene (COL3A1) had significantly higher expression in the disc herniation group and facet arthropathy group when compared to the degenerative spondylolisthesis group ( p