Comparison of growth factor and cytokine expression in patients with degenerated disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus.
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.
Lee
Seungcheol
S
Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
Moon
Chan Sam
CS
Sul
Donggeun
D
Lee
Jiyoung
J
Bae
Minyoung
M
Hong
Youngki
Y
Lee
Min
M
Choi
Seonyoung
S
Derby
Richard
R
Kim
Byung-Jo
BJ
Kim
Juhan
J
Yoon
Joon-Sik
JS
Wolfer
Lee
L
Kim
Jaemin
J
Wang
Joonho
J
Hwang
Sun-Wook
SW
Lee
Sang-Heon
SH
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
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