Level of BMP-2, VEGF and d vitamin receptor levels in ligamentum flavum in patients with spinal stenosis and lumbar disc hernia

Disc herniation and spinal stenosis are encountered frequently in neurosurgical practice. Disc herniations are disorders occurring as a result of herniation of intervertebral disc, which can be seen at any age. Since this is a disease that may develop due to axial compression and degeneration, histopathological changes may be expected in ligamentum flavum (LF). Spinal stenosis is a disease characterized by histopathological changes such as decrease in elastic fibers, fibrosis formation and ossification in LF. Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) is a protein synthesized by osteoblasts and osteocytes that is primarily found in bone and plays an important role in ossification. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is synthesized by many different cells in the body and plays a role in angiogenesis. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a receptor that is mainly found in bone and cartilage tissues and is required by vitamin D to show its effect. In our study, we aimed to evaluate whether there were differences in the levels of BMP-2, VEGF and VDR in LF tissues of patients with spinal stenosis and disc herniation. A total of 50 patients who underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation and spinal stenosis were evaluated. The LF of the patients were collected appropriately. The prevalence of immunoreactivity of BMP-2, VEGF and VDR was evaluated histopathologically in the pathology laboratory. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software. BMP-2 levels were found to be close to each other in both diseases. In the LF tissues of patients with spinal stenosis, VEGF levels were statistically significantly higher. VDR levels were significantly lower in patients with spinal stenosis. In conclusion, disc herniation and spinal stenosis, degenerative changes develop in LF. Higher levels of VEGF and significant decrease in VDR levels in LF in spinal stenosis were attributed to degenerative processes in the disease being more severe and chronic. Keywords: Lumbar disc herniation, Spinal stenosis, BMP-2, VEGF, VDR