Sex-specific divergences in the types and timing of infiltrating immune cells during the intervertebral disc acute injury response and their associations with degeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Inadequate repair of the intervertebral disc (IVD) contributes to low back pain. Infiltrating immune cells into damaged tissues are critical mediators of repair, yet little is known about the identities, roles, and temporal regulation following IVD injury. By analyzing transcripts of immune cell markers, histopathologic analysis, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry, we aimed to define the temporal cascade of infiltrating immune cells and their associations with IVD degeneration.

Methods

Caudal IVDs from 12-week-old C57BL6/J mice were injured and monitored for 42 days post-injury. Transcriptional markers identifying myeloid, B, and T immune cells, and angiogenic factors were measured from the IVDs every 2-3 days. Histopathologic degeneration of the IVD was measur

SUBMITTER: Clayton SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12525793 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature