Angiopoietin-like protein 2 induces interleukin-6 expression in the mechanism underlying ligamentum flavum hypertrophy in lumbar spinal canal stenosis patients

摘要

Introduction: Chronic inflammation is thought to cause ligamentum flavum (LF) degeneration and hypertrophy in lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS). Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2) is highly expressed in hypertrophied LF. Angptl2 regulates interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in various tissues, thus we investigated whether IL-6 is expressed in hypertrophied LF and, if so, whether Angptl2 induces IL-6 expression in LF fibroblasts.