Increased Cellular Expression of Interleukin-6 in Patients With Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

We performed histologic, immunohistochemical, immunoblot examination and suspension array analyses of cytokine expression in cultured cells derived from human cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

To determine the roles of interleukin-6 (IL-6) during the maturation of osteoblasts and chondrocytes associated with the development of OPLL.

Ectopic OPLL affects ~3% of the general population, with a higher incidence in Asian ethnic groups. Alterations in cytokine profiles may influence osteoblast differentiation, but the mechanisms and signaling pathways associated with the ossification process remain unclear.

Samples were collected from 14 patients with OPLL who had undergone spinal surgery and seven with cervical spondylotic myelopathy without OPLL. Tissue sections were used for histologic and immunohistochemical studies, and primary cells from ligamentum samples were used for cytokine array and immunoblotting. A suspension array was used to measure the concentrations of 27 inflammatory cytokines or growth factors.

Suspension array and immunoblot analyses revealed significantly elevated levels of IL-6 in OPLL patients. Alterations in IL-6 concentrations were found to alter the expression of the genes Sox9 , Runx2 , and SIRT1 . In addition, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that these factors are present in mesenchymal cells within the degenerative portion of the ligament matrix that is adjacent to the ossification front.

IL-6 plays a profound role in the osteoblast differentiation process along with the induction of chondrocyte hypertrophy and cell apoptosis in the early stages of ossification in OPLL. These changes in cytokine profiles are essential factors for regulation of the ectopic ossified plaque in OPLL.