We were keen therefore to assess whether the effect that rs1676486 has on COL11A1 expression in LDH is also observed in OA and whether the rs2615977 association to OA also marked AEI.
Recently, the gene encoding the α1 chain of type XI collagen, (COL11A1) (rs 1676486), was associated with lumbar disc herniation in the Japanese population.
COL11A1, which encodes the alpha 1 chain of type XI collagen, was highly expressed in IVD, but its expression was decreased in the IVD of patients with LDH.