Th17 cell frequency and IL-17 concentration correlate with pre- and postoperative pain sensation in patients with intervertebral disk degeneration.

Abstract

Numerous studies have revealed the presence of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in pathologic intervertebral disk (IVD) tissues and the contribution of Th17-associated cytokines to the development of this disease. However, the pre- and postoperative changes in the proportion of Th17 cells and the concentration of IL-17 in the peripheral blood of patients with IVD degeneration are not clear. The levels of Th17 frequency and the interleukin-17 (IL-17) concentration in peripheral blood from patients and volunteers were examined by flow cytometry and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The clinical results were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). These results were subjected to a correlation analysis. Compared with the normal controls, the proportion of Th17 cells and the concentration of IL-17 were significantly increased preoperatively in patients with IVD degeneration. Postoperatively, the levels of Th17 cells and the expression of IL-17 were dramatically decreased. The correlation analysis of the VAS pain scores, Th17 cell frequency, and IL-17 concentration, including the pre- and postoperative levels and the changes induced by the surgery, revealed a positive correlation. The authors' results explain the contribution of Th17 cells and IL-17 to the pain sensation experienced by patients with IVD degeneration. These 2 factors may be good indicators for the evaluation of the surgical outcome of patients with lumbar disk herniation.

• Authors: Wen Zhang, Lin Nie, Ying-Jun Guo, Lei-Xiang Han, Xia Wang, Hua Zhao, Ying-Guang Han, Yuan-Qiang Zhang, Lei Cheng
• Journal: Orthopedics (Orthopedics) Vol. 37 Issue 7 Pg. e685-91 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1938-2367 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24992069 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2014, SLACK Incorporated.

Chemical References

• Interleukin-17

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Humans
• Interleukin-17 (blood)
• Intervertebral Disc (chemistry, immunology)
• Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (blood, complications, immunology)
• Low Back Pain (blood, diagnosis, immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain, Postoperative (blood, diagnosis, immunology)
• Th17 Cells (immunology)
• Visual Analog Scale