Effect of NF-kB signaling pathway on the expression of MIF, TNF-α, IL-6 in the regulation of intervertebral disc degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: Τo investigate the effect of NF-kB signaling pathway on the expression of MIF, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the regulation of disc degeneration.

METHODS: The disc tissue was taken from 56 patients with cervical spondylosis. According to the preoperative MRI and intraoperative disc herniation, the patients were divided into two groups: degeneration group and herniation group. The control group was 34 patients with cervical trauma with no history of cervical spondylosis. According to the preoperative JOA scores of cervical spondylosis, patients were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and severe. ELISA was used to detect the expression of MIF, IL-6, and TNF-α in the cervical intervertebral disc. NF-kB mRNA expression in the intervertebral disc was detected by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS: The expression levels of NF-kB mRNA, MIF, IL-6 and TNF-α in the control group were significantly higher than those in the degeneration group and the herniation group (p⟨0.05). There was a positive correlation between the expression of NF-kB mRNA, MIF, IL-6, TNF- and cervical intervertebral disc degeneration. The expression of MIF, IL-6, and TNF-α in the mild, moderate, and severe group was negatively correlated with the JOA score.

CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of NF-kB, MIF, IL-6, and TNF-α in intervertebral disc tissue in patients with disc herniation were increased and related to the degree of disc herniation. It may play an important role in the pathophysiological process of disc herniation.