(A) Representative human IVDs with Rutges degeneration scale indicating low (grades 0–3), moderate (grades 4–6), and high (grades 8–10) degenerative grades. With (B) representative expression of macrophage phenotype markers CCR7 (M1), CD163 (M2c), and CD206 (M2a). CCR7+, CD163+, and CD206+ cells were identified in all moderate and high degeneration IVDs, while little or no positive staining was identified in low degeneration IVDs. Scale bar = 50 μm.