Intervertebral Disc Cells Produce Interleukins Found in Patients with Back Pain.
To examine the link between cytokines in intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues and axial back pain.



In vitro study with human IVD cells cultured from cadaveric donors and annulus fibrosus (AF) tissues from patients.



Cultured nucleus pulposus (NP) and AF cells were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β. IL-8 and IL-7 gene expression was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. IL-8 protein was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After IL-1β stimulation, IL-8 gene expression increased 26,541 fold in NP cells and 22,429 fold in AF cells, whereas protein released by the NP and AF cells increased 2,389- and 1,784-fold, respectively. IL-7 gene expression increased 3.3-fold in NP cells (P < 0.05).Cytokine profiles in AF tissues collected from patients undergoing surgery for back pain (painful group) or scoliosis (controls) were compared by cytokine array. IL-8 protein in the AF tissues from patients with back pain was 1.81-fold of that in controls. IL-7 and IL-10 in AF tissues from the painful group were 6.87 and 4.63 times greater than the corresponding values in controls, respectively (P < 0.05).



Inflammatory mediators found in AF tissues from patients with discogenic back pain are likely produced by IVD cells and may play a key role in back pain.
From the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (YZ, CTP) and Orthopedic Surgery (YZ, HES), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Translational Musculoskeletal Research Center (TMRC), Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (YZ, HES); Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois (AC, PS, HSA); Department of Biochemistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SLA); Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois (YD); and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (DZM, DGA).
Yejia
Y
Zhang
Ana
A
Chee
Peng
P
Shi
Sherrill L
SL
Adams
Dessislava Z
DZ
Markova
David Greg
DG
Anderson
Harvey E
HE
Smith
Youping
Y
Deng
Christopher T
CT
Plastaras
Howard S
HS
An
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000070616:Annulus Fibrosus / Q000378:metabolism*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070614:Nucleus Pulposus / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508605:IL7 protein, human; D015851:Interleukin-7; D016209:Interleukin-8; D007378:Interleukins; D016753:Interleukin-10