Sedowofia K A, Tomlinson I W, Weiss J B, Hilton R C, Jayson M I
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1982 May-Jun;7(3):213-22.
Changes in the macromolecular matrix of the intervertebral disc may predispose to biomechanical failure of the disc. Such changes would involve extracellular enzymes capable of altering the collagen and proteoglycan of the disc matrix. In this study, extracts from homogenates of both annuli fibrosi and nuclei pulposi of human lumbar discs were found to contain neutral collagenolytic, gelatinolytic, and elastinolytic enzymes in all samples assayed. The specific activity of the collagenase was higher in extracts from nuclear than from annular tissue, a difference not seen with gelatinase or elastase. The collagenase was present as both a latent and active enzyme, the other enzymes being fully active. Human intervertebral discs therefore contain enzymes capable of degrading their extracellular macromolecular matrix.
椎间盘大分子基质的变化可能使椎间盘易于发生生物力学故障。此类变化将涉及能够改变椎间盘基质中胶原蛋白和蛋白聚糖的细胞外酶。在本研究中，在所有检测的样本中，人腰椎间盘纤维环和髓核匀浆提取物均含有中性胶原酶、明胶酶和弹性蛋白酶。核提取物中胶原酶的比活性高于环组织提取物，而明胶酶或弹性蛋白酶未观察到这种差异。胶原酶以潜伏酶和活性酶两种形式存在，其他酶则完全具有活性。因此，人类椎间盘含有能够降解其细胞外大分子基质的酶。
