caa a22 4500 445833017 CHVBK 20180317145321.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170323e20111001xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s00586-011-1841-3 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s00586-011-1841-3 Akt/PKB isoforms expression in the human lumbar herniated disc: correlation with clinical and MRI findings [Elektronische Daten] [Dritan Pasku, Giannoula Soufla, Pavlos Katonis, Alexandros Tsarouhas, Antonis Vakis, Demetrios Spandidos] Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration suggests a complex process influenced by genetics, lifestyle and biomechanics, which accounts for the development of low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radiculopathy, a major cause of musculoskeletal disability in humans. The family of Akt/PKB kinases is a principal mediator in the signal transduction pathways, which contribute to transcriptional regulation, cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and survival ability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the transcriptional profile of the AKT family genes in human herniated discs and the involvement of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in human IVD degeneration. Real-time PCR analysis was used to assess the mRNA expression pattern of the three Akt/PKB isoforms in 63 herniated and 10 control disc specimens. Our results showed a significant positive correlation between AKT1 and AKT3 mRNA in herniated discs suggesting a synergistic action between these isoforms in disc herniation. Interestingly, AKT2 mRNA was up-regulated in patients with acute pain during the first 12months, indicating that AKT2 transcriptional activation may be associated with acute rather than chronic inflammation and phagocytosis. Finally, Akt1/PKB transcription presented a stepwise activation as disc herniation deteriorated. Our findings provide evidence on the transcriptional activation of the Akt/PKB pathway indicating that it is involved in lumbar disc degeneration. There is need for further studies to elucidate the exact role and down-stream signaling action of Akt/PKB isoforms in the pathogenesis of lumbar disc herniation. Springer-Verlag, 2011 Akt/PKB nationallicence mRNA expression nationallicence RT-PCR nationallicence Lumbar disc herniation nationallicence Pasku Dritan Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece aut Soufla Giannoula Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete Heraklion, Greece aut Katonis Pavlos Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece aut Tsarouhas Alexandros Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete Heraklion, Greece aut Vakis Antonis Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece aut Spandidos Demetrios Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete Heraklion, Greece aut European Spine Journal Springer-Verlag 20/10(2011-10-01), 1676-1683 0940-6719 20:10<1676 2011 20 586 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-1841-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-1841-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Pasku Dritan Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Soufla Giannoula Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete Heraklion, Greece aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Katonis Pavlos Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Tsarouhas Alexandros Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete Heraklion, Greece aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Vakis Antonis Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Spandidos Demetrios Department of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete Heraklion, Greece aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- European Spine Journal Springer-Verlag 20/10(2011-10-01), 1676-1683 0940-6719 20:10<1676 2011 20 586 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer