Pathophysiology of Degenerative Disc Disease

Abstract

The intervertebral disc is characterized by a tension-resisting annulus fibrosus and a compression-resisting nucleus pulposus composed largely of proteoglycan. The most important function of the annulus and nucleus is to provide mechanical stability to the disc. Degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine is a serious health problem. Although the three joint complex model of the degenerative process is widely accepted, the etiological basis of this degeneration is poorly understood. With the recent progress in molecular biology and modern biological techniques, there has been dramatic improvement in the understanding of aging and degenerative changes of the disc. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disc degeneration can help in the appropriate choice of treatment and to develop tissue engineering for biological restoration of degenerated discs.

Introduction

Lumbar disc degeneration is the most common cause of low back pain and it is a target of diagnostic and surgical intervention. Although the specific underlying pathology of intervertebral disc degeneration has been approached from a variety of ways, there is no consensus as to what disc degeneration actually is or how it can be distinguished from the physiological process of growth, aging, healing and adaptive remodeling. This paper evaluated the pathophysiology of disc degeneration from a review of the existing literature.

Anatomy and Physiology of the Disc

An intervertebral disc consists of three components: an inner gelatinous nucleus pulposus, outer annulus fibrosus and cartilage end plates located superiorly and inferiorly. The outer annulus fibrosus, which is abundant in type I collagen, is a circular layer that is resistant to tensile strength because the collagen fibers run oblique between the lamellae of the annulus in alternating directions. The nucleus pulposus consists of a proteoglycan and water gel held together loosely by irregular networks of fine type II collagen and elastin fibers. The major proteoglycan of the nucleus pulposus is aggrecan¹, which provides the osmotic properties needed to resist compression. The intervertebral disc is one of the largest avascular tissues in the body. Disc tissues derive their nutrition from vessels in the subchondral bone adjacent to the hyaline cartilage of the end plate. Small molecules, such as glucose and oxygen, are carried through the end plate in passive diffusion process². The cells in the disc maintain the biological metabolism of the discs by controlling numerous materials, such as cytokines, enzymes, and growth factors.

Chondrocytes produce proteoglycan and collagen, which is the basic skeletal structure of a disc. A monomer of proteoglycan consists of a protein core linked to extended polysaccharide chains, such as keratan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Each monomer is bound to hyaluronic acid by a link protein. Aggrecan is the most common proteoglycan in the disc (Fig. 1), and comprises approximately 70% of the nucleus pulposus and 25% of the annulus fibrosus. A normal disc is responsible for retaining water within the matrix resulting in high viscoelasticity. Aggrecan has high osmotic pressure arising from the water retained within the nucleus pulposus and tends to inflate the collagen framework³. As the nucleus pulposus is located between the vertebral end plates and annulus fibrosus, it cannot be expanded but has the potential of expansion, which is known as turgor of the nucleus pulposus. The high concentration of aggrecan in a normal disc enables the tissue to support compressive loads without collapsing and the loads are transferred equally to the annulus fibrosus and vertebral body during flexion and extension movement of the spine⁴.

Fig. 1.

Illustration of the assemblies of matrix proteins into structures in the intervertebral disc.

Healing of an Injured Intervertebral Disc

Chondrocytes of the intervertebral disc synthesize their matrix and break down the existing matrix by producing and activating degradative enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAMS)^5-7. Turnover markers of the matrix and the formation of proteoglycan are maintained at the highest level in adolescence and usually decrease thereafter⁸.

Injured intervertebral discs have a higher concentration of catabolic cytokines, activity of MMPs^8,9, and formation of scar tissue¹⁰. If the annulus fibrosus is injured, the nucleus pulposus will escape through the injured annulus fibrosus because it is not fully replaced with chondroid tissue. The healing process of an injured annulus is overtaken by degenerative changes.

Degenerative Change of Intervertevral Disc

Several factors have been reported to cause disc degeneration. A genetic predisposition to disc degeneration has been proven by studies on twins^11-17. A polymorphism (5A and 6A alleles) commonly occurs in the promoter region of the gene that regulates MMP-3 production¹⁸. The 5A allele is considered to be a risk factor for the accelerated degenerative changes in the lumbar discs of elderly people but not in the young population¹⁹. Growth factors, such as transforming growth factor, insulin-like growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor, stimulate the chondrocytes or fibroblasts to produce more extracellular matrix, and inhibit the production of matrix metalloproteinases²⁰. An increase in the level of the basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor promotes the repair of the degraded matrix^21,22. The intervertebral disc is the largest avascular tissue in the body. The cells in the center of an adult lumbar disc are approximately 8 mm away from the nearest blood supply²³. The cells in the outer annulus obtain nutrients from the blood vessels in the soft tissues around its periphery as well as from a sparse penetration of capillaries into its outermost region²⁴. The nucleus and cells of the inner annulus depend on a more complicated path extending from the blood vessels of the vertebral body to a capillary network that penetrates the subchondral plate. The nutrients diffuse from these capillaries across the cartilaginous endplate and through the dense disc matrix to the cells²⁵. Poor transport of nutrients into the disc is considered to be a cause of disc degeneration²⁶. Disc degeneration appears to have a relationship with age. Although many studies have been carried out to prove these relationships, such as declining nutrition, cell senescence, the accumulation of degraded matrix products and fatigue failure of the nucleus, no distinct cause has been established²⁷. The concentration of cells in the annulus decreases with age^10,28,29. The cells from the disc are subject to senescence and lose their ability to proliferate^30,31. Decreased anabolism or increased catabolism of senescent cells may promote degeneration^31-33) Although all discs are the same age, discs at the lower lumbar segments are more vulnerable to degenerative changes than the upper lumbar segments³⁴. This suggests that mechanical loading is a causative factor, rather than simple aging.

The decrease in the number and activity of disc cells depends on the mechanical loading, nutrient transport, life style, genetic factors and growth factors (Fig. 2). Those factors alter the aggrecan and collagen metabolism. As aging progresses, the strongly hydrophilic chondroitin-4-sulfate (chondroitin sulfate A) and chondroitin-6-sulfate (chondroitin sulfate C) concentrations are decreased, and the keratan sulfate to chondroitin sulfate ratio increases. Keratan sulfate has a smaller hydrophilic potential and less tendency to form stable aggregates with hyaluronic acid. The viscosity and hydrophilicity of the nucleus pulposus decreases as aggrecan is fragmented and its molecular weight and number are decreased. More degenerative changes to the intervertebral disc are promoted as the hydrostatic pressure of the nucleus pulposus and supply of nutrients by diffusion are decreased. If the water content of the extracellular matrix is decreased, there will be a decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc as well as the resistance of the disc to an axial load³⁵. Tearing of the annulus clefts can occur easily as the axial load is transferred directly to the annular fibrosus.

Fig. 2.

Factors influencing disc cell turnover.

Loss and fragmentation of aggrecan will occur with the progress of degenerative change due to the decreased number and activity of disc cells. The distribution and type of collagen in the nucleus will change, e.g. type 1 collagen, which will result in a failure to form the structural framework of the disc. The loss of aggrecan from a degenerative disc influences the load-bearing pattern of the disc as the osmotic pressure of the disc falls, and the disc is less able to maintain hydration under load. When the load on a normal disc is increased, the amount of aggrecans and its osmotic pressure will sufficient to bear the load³. On the other hand, since degenerative discs fail to bear hydrostatic press and structural framework, the load on the discs will cause a loss of height leading to bulging of the discs. Degenerated discs no longer function hydrostatically under load. The stress of the load concentrates along the endplate and the annulus³⁶. An annular bulge results from less resistance against tension under load. These changes in a degenerative disc have a strong influence on the other spinal structures and can affect their function, predisposing the disc to injury (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3.

The spectrum of pathogenesis of the degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc.

Yong-Hing and Kirkaldy-Willis³⁷ described the intervertebral articulation as a three-joint complex, comprising the disc anteriorly and the two facet joints posteriorly. At the disc, circumferential annular tears progress to radial tears. Herniation can occur when nuclear materials protrude or extrude into the perinural space through radial tears of the annulus. Complete internal disruption of the disc progresses to a subsequent loss of disc height and annular laxity. The loss of disc height alters the facet joint mechanics resulting in the formation of osteophytes at the disc margins. The cascade of degenerative changes at the facet joints resembles those occurring at any synovial joint, which progresses as follows: beginning with synovitis and progressing to articular cartilage destruction, capsular redundancy and joint subluxation. Hypertrophic osteophytes form at the margins of the facet joints and periarticular fibrosis results in stiff facet joints. Coincidentally, a decrease in intervertebral height causes buckling of the ligament flavum and facet overriding. Degenerative changes occur in a parallel manner at all three components, which may cause narrowing of the neuroforaminal and spinal canals.

In addition, the failure of nutritional supply to the disc cells is believed to be another cause of disc degeneration. As aging progresses, the nutritional deficiency of the disc cells is accelerated by smoking, endplate calcification, and the overall nutritional status. The nutritional deficiency and lower oxygen pressure in the discs leads to the accumulation of lactic acid. These changes can affect the ability of disc cells to synthesize and maintain the extracellular matrix of the discs and cause disc degeneration. The degenerated discs cannot respond properly to a normal external load and the risk of internal disruption increases, even by back strain³⁸.

In contrast to other musculoskeletal systems, the intervertebral disc exhibits degenerative changes in the late second or early third decade. However, the degenerated disc does not always evoke symptoms. According to Boden's study³⁹, there is disc degeneration in at least one lumbar level in 35% of subjects between twenty and thirty-nine years of age but all subjects sixty to eighty years of age show disc degeneration. It is quite difficult to differentiate the normal aging process from pathological degeneration in patients showing symptoms⁴.

The degenerative changes to the intervertebral disc are a cellular-mediated reaction, which is destroyed during the normal progression and reconstruction of the injured structure of the discs. Although a mechanical load precipitates disc degeneration, the most important causes of degeneration include various processes that impair its healing response. Early degenerative changes to the disc could be defined as biochemical and metabolic changes with aging without any structural failure. On the other hand, degenerative disc disease should be applied to a painful degenerative disc with structural failure, including radial tear of the annulus fibrosus, herniated intervertebral disc, calcification or damage to the end plate, and internal disc disruption^40-42.

Discogenic Pain

The nervous system around the disc is affected by disc degeneration, which can stimulate the nociceptors in the anulus fibrosus and cause nociceptive pain, which is referred to as discogenic pain. Substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactive nerve fibers are present in the absolute outer layers of the anulus fibrosus of a normal disc⁴³. Degenerative changes in the discs, such as loss of the normal structure and a mechanical load, can lead to abnormal motion, which can provoke mechanical stimulation. Mechanical stimuli, which are normally innocuous to disc nociceptors can, in certain circumstances, generate an amplified response termed peripheral sensitisation⁴⁴. The presence of lactic acid leads to a low pH and stimulates the neurogenic and non-neurogenic pain mediator, provoking pain. In addition, the pathological characteristics of the disc from patients with discogenic pain reveals the formation of zones of vascularized granulation tissue and extensive innervation extending from the outer layer of the anulus fibrosus into the nucleus pulposus along a torn fissure of the annulus. There is abundant infiltration of mast cells in the granulation tissue zones. Mast cells contribute to disc tissue inflammation, neovascularization, fibrosis formation, disc tissue degradation and secrete the nerve growth factor, which might be a signaling substance, such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukins, and play a role in the development of back pain. For example, phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which is related to the arachidonic acid cascade, is detected at high concentrations in a degenerative disc⁴⁵. When PLA2 is released into the disc, it stimulates the nociceptors of the outer third of annulus fibrosus, which release inflammatory materials that trigger pain. Neural tissues exposed to PLA2 exhibit intraneural edema, demyelination and axonal injury.

Discogenic pain arises from not only structural failure of the disc but also from nociceptive neurotransmitters, and neural and vascular ingrowth in the outer annulus fibrosus, even though it has not been clearly verified⁴⁶.

Currently, there is no clear boundary between the aging changes and pathological degeneration of the disc, even though a MRI examination has improved the clinical understanding of degeneration, including annular tears, loss of signal in the nucleus and annulus, and facet joint degeneration. Understanding the pathogenesis of disc degeneration can help select the appropriate treatment strategy and develop tissue engineering for biological restoration of degenerated discs. In the future, an ideal treatment for degenerative disc disease must achieve not only pain relief but also the biological reversal of the degenerative cascade. In addition, it is essential to establish a pain mechanism in degenerative disc disease because structural failure of the disc does not always correspond to pain.