title: Comparison of growth factor and cytokine expression in patients with degenerated disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the levels of disc degeneration and the expression levels of cytokines and growth factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of TNF-alpha 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-1beta, IL-6 and IL-12 between the HNP and DDD groups. In addition, the expression of TGF beta, VEGF and NGF was significantly higher in the DDD group than in the HNP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Seungcheol
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: Chan Sam
authors: CS
authors: Moon
authors: Donggeun
authors: D
authors: Sul
authors: Jiyoung
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Minyoung
authors: M
authors: Bae
authors: Youngki
authors: Y
authors: Hong
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Lee
authors: Seonyoung
authors: S
authors: Choi
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Derby
authors: Byung-Jo
authors: BJ
authors: Kim
authors: Juhan
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Joon-Sik
authors: JS
authors: Yoon
authors: Lee
authors: L
authors: Wolfer
authors: Jaemin
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Joonho
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Sun-Wook
authors: SW
authors: Hwang
authors: Sang-Heon
authors: SH
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018664:Interleukin-12; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor