Aggrecanases and aggrecanase-generated fragments in the human intervertebral disc at early and advanced stages of disc degeneration.

Study Design: A comparative study of aggrecanases and aggrecan fragmentation profile in the human intervertebral disc at early and advanced stages of disc degeneration.

Objective: To determine differences in the content of the aggrecanases and the profile of aggrecan fragmentation in early and advanced stages of disc degeneration using cadaveric human intervertebral discs.

Summary Of Background Data: Aggrecanases and aggrecanase-generated aggrecan fragments have been found in human degenerated discs.