Herniated cervical intervertebral discs spontaneously produce matrix metalloproteinases, nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and prostaglandin e2

James D. Kang, Helga I. Georgescu, Lori Mc Lntyre-Larkin, Maja Stefanovic-Racic, Christopher H. Evans

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

169 Scopus citations

Abstract

Study DesignHerniated cervical disc specimens were obtained from patients undergoing surgical discectomy for persistent radiculopathy and cultured in vitro E to determine whether various biochemical agents were being produced Objectives Our hypothesis is that biochemical mediators of inflammation and tissue degradation play a role in cervical intervertebral disc degeneration and in the pathophysiology of cervical radiculopathy Summary of Background Data Neck pain with or without radiculopathy is a common clinical problem, but the etiology of neck pain and the exact pathophysiology of rediculopathy remain uncertain, We have previously reported the production of various biochemical agents by herniated lumbar disc specimens in vitro E. Because of a lack of such studies in the literature with respect to the cervical spine, the purpose of this study was to determine whether similar biochemical agents of inflammation and tissue degradation were being produced by herniated cervical disc specimens. Methods Eighteen herniated cervical dises were obtained from 15 patients undergoing anterior disc surgery. The specimens were cultured and incubated for 72 hours, and the media were subsequently collected for biochemical analysis. Biochemical assays for matrix metalloproteinases, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and a variety of cytokines were performed. As a control group, six cervical discs specimens were obtained from three patients undergoing anterior surgery for traumatic burst fractures, and similar biochemical analyses were performed.Results The culture media from the herniated cervical disc specimens showed increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase activity compared with the control discs. Similarly, the levels of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and interleukin-6 were significantly higher in the hernlated disc specimens compared with the control discs, Interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein, and substance P were not detected in the culture media of the herniated or control discs.Conclusions Herniated cervical disc specimens were making spontaneously increased amounts of matrix metalloproteinases, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and interleukin-6. These results were similar to those obtained in herniated lumbar disc specimens that we have previously reported. These products may be intimately involved in the biochemistry of disc degeneration and the pathophysiology of radiculopathy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2373-2378
Number of pages6
JournalSpine
Volume20
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1995

Keywords

  • Cytokines
  • Degeneration
  • Intervertebral disc
  • Metalloproteiinase
  • Nitric oxide
  • Prostaglardir
  • Radiculopathy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Clinical Neurology

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