Objective: 

This study aims to provide the profile of the IL-12 and IFN-g cytokines and NK lymphocytes, main components of inflammatory responses, in both degenerated disc and plasma samples of a group of patients with lumbar degenerated disk disease (DDD).

Methods: 

Twenty-six patients were suggestive of lumbar DDD were included in this study. Control subjects included 14 autopsy cases. From each patient, disc tissues and peripheral blood samples for plasma were collected during the surgery. For the controls, disc samples and blood for plasma by intracardiac puncture were obtained during autopsy. Flow cytometry was used to obtain the lymphocyte CD56 (NK). The Luminex was used to obtain IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, in both plasma and disc tissues. The results were statistically compared between the two groups.

Results: 

Comparison of the two groups regarding plasma showed that IL–1b (pg/ml C;6,42 ± 2.05,P; 46.6 ± 9.03), IL–2 (pg/ml C; 7.62 ± 2.61, P; 26.11 ± 6.39), IFN-g (pg/ml C;4.62 ± 1.19, P; 8.94 ± 2.36) were significantly higher than in patients than those of the controls. Likewise, tissue levels of IL-1b (pg/ml C;11.45 ± 3.80, P;31,61 ± 4.82), IL–2(pg/ml C; 3.92 ± 1.13, P; 11.88 ± 2.51) IL–4 (pg/ml C; 8.37 ± 3.35 P;32.18 ± 6.38), IL–10 (pg/ml C;9.09 ± 3.20 P;30.67 ± 7.67), IL–12(pg/ml C; 4.09 ± 1.04 P; 7.33 ± 1.15), TNF-a (pg/ml C; 11.80 ± 2.89 P; 28.94 ± 4.04) were found to be significantly higher in the patients. Findings suggest that both local and systemic inflammatory responses occur in lumbar DDD.

Conclusions: 

Using specific cytokines either by local or systemic application may reverse the degenerative process.