Comparison of growth factor and cytokine expression in patients with degenerated disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry 2009-10, Vol.42 (15), p.1504-1511
• Main Authors: Lee, Seungcheol, Moon, Chan Sam, Sul, Donggeun, Lee, Jiyoung, Bae, Minyoung, Hong, Youngki, Lee, Min, Choi, Seonyoung, Derby, Richard, Kim, Byung-Jo, Kim, Juhan, Yoon, Joon-Sik, Wolfer, Lee, Kim, Jaemin, Wang, Joonho, Hwang, Sun-Wook, Lee, Sang-Heon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Degenerated disc disease (DDD); Disc degeneration; Female; Growth factors; Herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP); Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Interleukin-12 - metabolism; Interleukin-1beta - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Interleukin-8 - metabolism; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - metabolism; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration - pathology; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - complications; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - metabolism; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - pathology; Low Back Pain - etiology; Low Back Pain - metabolism; Low Back Pain - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; MRI; Nerve Growth Factor - metabolism; Spinal Diseases - complications; Spinal Diseases - metabolism; Spinal Diseases - pathology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2009.06.017

This study was conducted to investigate the expression of cytokines and growth factors in disc specimens obtained from patients with herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) and degenerated disc disease (DDD). MRI and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the levels of disc degeneration and the expression levels of cytokines and growth factors. The levels of TNF-α and IL-8 were significantly greater in the DDD group than in the HNP group, but no statistical differences were observed in the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-12 between the HNP and DDD groups. In addition, the expression of TGF β, VEGF and NGF was significantly higher in the DDD group than in the HNP group. The greater levels of cytokine and growth factor expression in the DDD group than in the HNP explain why discogenic patients usually have more severe back pain than patients with herniated discs.