Catabolic cytokine expressions in patients with degenerative disc disease.
OBJECTIVE
Lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a common disease of advanced age characterized by progressive changes in the intervertebral disc and associated structures. There have been great efforts for years to explain its pathophysiological mechanism(s). This study aims to provide cytokine profile and in addition to the lymphocytes in a population of patients with lumbar DDD.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients whose clinical and radiological features were suggestive of lumbar DDD that underwent surgery and 14 autopsy cases as control were included. Patient disc samples were obtained during surgery whilst disc materials were collected during autopsy procedures from the controls. Major cytokines and lymphocytes were studied by using the flow cytometry method.


RESULTS
Significantly higher levels in disc samples in relation to IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, CD8, CD56, CD19, and CD40 were found in the patients compared to the controls. Positive correlations were shown between CD3/CD4, CD25/CD3, CD25/CD4, CD19/CD4 but negative correlations were shown between CD19/CD3 and CD25/CD19 in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that both local inflammatory responses occur in lumbar DDD. Using specific cytokines either by local or systemic application may reverse the degenerative process.
Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty Department of Physiology Istanbul, Turkey. sibelakyol@gmail.com
Sibel
S
Akyol
Berna Senel
BS
Eraslan
Hakan
H
Etyemez
Taner
T
Tanriverdi
Murat
M
Hanci
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008660:Metabolism / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma