The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and CD68 in high-intensity zone of lumbar intervertebral disc on magnetic resonance image in the patients with low back pain

• Published in: Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976) Vol. 36; no. 6; p. E429
• Main Authors: Dongfeng, Ren, Hou, Shuxun, Wu, Wenwen, Wang, Huadong, Shang, Weilin, Tang, Jiaguang, Li, Zhenzhou, Lei, Guo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.03.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD - biosynthesis; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic - biosynthesis; Cell Proliferation; Female; Fibroblasts - metabolism; Fibroblasts - pathology; Granulation Tissue - metabolism; Granulation Tissue - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - pathology; Intervertebral Disc - metabolism; Intervertebral Disc - pathology; Intervertebral Disc - surgery; Low Back Pain - metabolism; Low Back Pain - pathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - metabolism; Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 1528-1159
• DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181dfce9e

Several recent studies suggest a high-intensity zone (HIZ) within the posterior annulu of lumbar intervertebral disc seen on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images represents the inflammation in the annulus, an annular tear, and/or vascular granulation tissue. It has not be reported yet whether there is the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and inflammatory cells appear in HIZ of intervertebral disc on MR images. To study whether HIZ is a specific signal for the inflammatory reaction of painful intervertebral disc. The presence of HIZ signal within the posterior annulus seen on sagittal T2-weighted spin-echo magnetic imaging sequences has already been used in the diagnosis of painful annular tears in the last decade. There have been studies suggesting that the presence of HIZ reflects inflammation in the annulus, an annular tear, and/or vascular granulation tissue. Twenty-six consecutive patients with low back pain underwent MR images and discography (age range = 26-65 years; mean age = 47.5 years; 16 men, 10 women). In all the patients, HIZ appeared in the involved intervertebral discs on T2-weighted MR images. Lumbar discography was usually performed on each patient for the discs L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1. All patients received posterior lumbar interbody fusion procedures. The intervertebral disc specimens contained HIZ were excised en bloc during posterior interbody fusion. The distribution of TNF-α and CD68 in the intervertebral disc specimens within HIZ on MR images from 26 consecutive patients with low back pain and in the intervertebral disc specimens from five fresh cadavers were observed. The histologic study of the consecutive sagittal slices of the HIZ showed a lot of proliferated small round cells and fibroblasts. There were a lot of TNF-α positive cells and some CD68 positive cells in HIZ and the number of TNF-α and CD68 positive cells in HIZ was significantly higher than that in the annulus fibrosus around HIZ and in the control (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that HIZ may be a specific signal for the inflammatory reaction of painful intervertebral disc.