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  • Title: Cytokines and growth factors in the protruded intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine.
    Author: Specchia N, Pagnotta A, Toesca A, Greco F.
    Journal: Eur Spine J; 2002 Apr; 11(2):145-51. PubMed ID: 11956921.
    Abstract:
    Nerve root irritation induced by factors produced by the intervertebral disc may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sciatic pain production. In this study we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the presence of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6-receptor (IL-6R) and fibronectin in lumbar disc bioptic specimens from 30 patients with disc herniation (protrusion type). Chondrocytes of herniated discs stained positive for TGF-beta1, IGF-1, IL-6 and fibronectin. We demonstrated for the first time the presence of IL-6-R in the chondrocytes of herniated tissue. Specimens from autoptic healthy tissue were used as controls. In these sections no immunoreaction for TGF-beta1, IL-6, or IL-6R was found, while they expressed IGF-1 and fibronectin, but in lower quantities than herniated discs. These results demonstrated the production of factors such as TGF-beta1, IGF-1, IL-6, IL-6R and fibronectin at the site of lumbar disc herniation.
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