Detection of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-18 in herniated intervertebral disc and their significance

[Objective]To detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-18(IL-18)protein in herniated intervertebral disc,and discuss the role of TNF-α and IL-18 protein in the course of the intervertebral disc degeneration and to clarify the mechanism of the lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and herniation. [Method]Forty nine specimens were studied from December 2005 to April 2007 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi Medical College.Experimental group contained thirty-four herniated intervertebral disc and control group contained fifteen discs,which were collected from the patients with spine fracture or autopsy.The specimens were divided into two parts,one part was fixed in 10% formalin about 24 hours and was embedded in paraffin.Four μm serial sections and S-P method were used.The sections were stained with TNF-α and IL-18 monoclonal antibodies,and the results were observed by OLYMPUS microscope.Another part was changed into well-distributed liquid,which was determined by Elisa method respectively,in order to detect density of TNF-α and IL-18 protein.Software SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis.[Result]1 TNF-α and IL-18 protein were expressed mostly in cytoplasma.The expression of IL-18 in the experiment group was obviously higher than in the control group.There were statistical significances(P0.01).The expression of TNF-α in the experiment group was obviously higher than in the control group.There was statistical significance(P0.01).2 The method of Elisa confirmed that TNF-α and IL-18 contents in the experiment group were markedly higher than the control group.There was statistical significance(P0.01).[Conclusion]There is obvious link between the expression of TNF-α and IL-18 proteins in herniated intervertebral disc and disc degeneration.The increase of the expression of TNF-α and IL-18 proteins may be the cause of intervertebral disc herniation and disc degeneration.