Differential Effect of Long-Term Systemic Exposure of TNFα on Health of the Annulus Fibrosus and Nucleus Pulposus of the Intervertebral Disc.

ABSTRACT: The inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is considered to play a key role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc disease. To evaluate the importance of this cytokine we examined the inflammatory environment and spinal phenotype of 9-month-old human TNFα overexpressing transgenic (hTNFα-TG) mice. The mice evidenced increased circulating levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, keratinocyte chemoattractant/human growth-regulated oncogene (KC/GRO), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) along with thinning of the cortical and trabecular vertebral bone. Surprisingly, although the nucleus pulposus (NP) of these mice was intact and healthy, the caudal annulus fibrosus (AF) evidenced robust cell death and immune cell infiltration. Despite these differences, there we

SUBMITTER: Gorth DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7145745 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature