Effect of Qishe Jingkang Pill on TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA Expression in Intervertebral Disc Cells

To elucidate the molecular mechanism of Qishe Jingkang Pill(QSJKP)in inhibiting the degeneration of intervertebral disc.Methods:Forty-eight female SD rats,14 months old,were randomly divided into 4 groups.The group A,B and C were experimen- tal modal of cervical intervertebral disc degeneration established by resection of the posterior paravertebral muscles from cervical verte- brae,the group D was the normal control group of sham operation.Group A and B were treated with QSJKP and Jingfukang(control- drug)respectivdy.The expression and distribution of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6) mRNA in cells of in- tervertebral disc were determined by in situ hybridization.And the morphologic degenerative change of intervertebral disc was a'lso ob- served.Results:The disc degeneration in group C was significantly higher than that in group A and D respectively(P0.05 and P 0.01).TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA located in the endplate and TNF-α was strongly expressed in chondrocytes in the endplate,however,the positive hybridization sign of IL-6 was few and scattered.There was no expression of TNF-α in the nucleus pulposus except that in group C.Conclusion:TNF-α played an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration process,but the effect of IL-6 was not obvious. QSJKP could inhibit the TNF-α mRNA expression in the nucleus pulposus,which is the possible therapeutic mechanism to inhibit de- generation.