title: Th17 cell frequency and IL-17 concentration correlate with pre- and postoperative pain sensation in patients with intervertebral disk degeneration.
abstract: Numerous studies have revealed the presence of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in pathologic intervertebral disk (IVD) tissues and the contribution of Th17-associated cytokines to the development of this disease. However, the pre- and postoperative changes in the proportion of Th17 cells and the concentration of IL-17 in the peripheral blood of patients with IVD degeneration are not clear. The levels of Th17 frequency and the interleukin-17 (IL-17) concentration in peripheral blood from patients and volunteers were examined by flow cytometry and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The clinical results were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). These results were subjected to a correlation analysis. Compared with the normal controls, the proportion of Th17 cells and the concentration of IL-17 were significantly increased preoperatively in patients with IVD degeneration. Postoperatively, the levels of Th17 cells and the expression of IL-17 were dramatically decreased. The correlation analysis of the VAS pain scores, Th17 cell frequency, and IL-17 concentration, including the pre- and postoperative levels and the changes induced by the surgery, revealed a positive correlation. The authors' results explain the contribution of Th17 cells and IL-17 to the pain sensation experienced by patients with IVD degeneration. These 2 factors may be good indicators for the evaluation of the surgical outcome of patients with lumbar disk herniation.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Ying-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Lei-Xiang
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ying-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yuan-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17