The involvement of immune system in intervertebral disc herniation and degeneration

Abstract

Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation and degeneration contributes significantly to low back pain (LBP), of which the molecular pathogenesis is not fully understood. Disc herniation may cause LBP and radicular pain, but not all LBP patients have disc herniation. Degenerated discs could be the source of pain, but not all degenerated discs are symptomatic. We previously found that disc degeneration and herniation accompanied by inflammation. We further found that anti‐inflammatory molecules blocked immune responses, alleviated IVD degeneration and pain. Based on our recent findings and the work of others, we hypothesize that immune system may play a prominent role in the production of disc herniation or disc degeneration associated pain. While the nucleus pulposus (NP) is an immune‐privileged organ, the damage of the physical barrier between NP and systemic circulation, or the innervation and vascularization of the degenerated NP, on one hand exposes NP as a foreign antigen to immune system, and on the other hand presents compression on the nerve root or dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which both elicit immune responses induced by immune cells and their mediators. The inflammation can remain for a long time at remote distance, with various types of cytokines and immune cells involved in this pain‐inducing process. In this review, we aim to revisit the autoimmunity of the NP, immune cell infiltration after break of physical barrier, the inflammatory activities in the DRG and the generation of pain. We also summarize the involvement of immune system, including immune cells and cytokines, in degenerated or herniated IVDs and affected DRG.

1. INTRODUCTION

Low back pain (LBP) is a common symptom ¹ affecting approximately 40% of the population worldwide, ² producing a significant burden on society and the medical system. ³ Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is the major cause of radicular pain, ⁴ which radiates into the lower extremity directly along the course of a spinal nerve root. In addition to LDH, nonherniated degenerating intervertebral discs (IVDs) can cause radicular pain in some patients. ⁵ The protrusion or extrusion of anIVDleadingto contact with or the compression of anerve root or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is a common cause of LBP with or without sciatica. However, evolving evidence has demonstrated that disc herniation‐induced radicular pain may persist even after surgical interventions. Starkweather et al. ⁶ studied neural‐immune interactions in patients with LBP and sciatica. They suggested that the neuroimmune system was activated during disc herniation‐induced radicular pain and that activated immune cells release proinflammatory cytokines, which signal the brain through humoral and neural routes, resulting in pain and functional changes in neural activity. LDH also contributes to LBP by playing a role in spinal stenosis ⁷ or acting as a primary source of discogenic LBP, ⁸ , ⁹ , ¹⁰ which is defined as chronic LBP induced by degenerative disc disease.

However, not all LBP patients have obviousdisc protrusion or nerve root compression. In somepatients, the severity of pain is not related to the degree of nerve compression. ¹¹ In addition to the mechanical compression of the nerve root or DRG, emerging evidence suggests that the degenerated disc itself could be a source of LBP. IVD degeneration starts from 10 years of age, when the number of notochordal cells drops to below detectable levels in the human NP, and develops with aging. ¹² IVD degeneration is closely associated with LBP, especially discogenic LBP. ¹³ , ¹⁴ However, not all degenerated discs are painful. Some people have degenerated discs without any signs of LBP. The reason this difference has not yet been fully revealed. We previously found that disc degeneration is accompanied by inflammation ¹⁵ , ¹⁶ , ¹⁷ and fibrotic changes ¹⁸ , ¹⁹ as a result of chronic inflammation. We further found that anti‐inflammatory molecules, such as LIM mineralization protein‐1, ²⁰ transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), ²¹ , ²² or Wnt5a, ²³ can suppress C‐C motif chemokine 4 (CCL4) expression and impede tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α)‐activated immune cascades, while melatonin can disrupt interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) signaling, ²⁴ , ²⁵ thus alleviating IVD degeneration and pain. Therefore, we hypothesize that inflammation may be the key difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic IVD degeneration. ²⁶

Since Naylar et al. ²⁷ proposed the autoimmunity of IVDs in 1975, meaning that cells in IVDs will be recognized by the immune system as foreign antigens and elicit immune reactions, in the past few decades, studies about the relationship between autoimmunity and disc degeneration and LBP have received growing attention. A number of studies have focused on the role of molecular immunology and the immune‐related inflammatory response in LBP. ²⁸ Currently, it is of practical significance to fully understand the relationship between the immune response and inflammatory factors and the role of molecular immunology in the process of LBP in the hope of designing effective biological treatments for disc degeneration and LBP. Based on this, we review the current literature related to the natural structure of the discs and the involvement and roles of immune cells and cytokines in pain production to highlight the necessity to treat against pain progression in IVD degeneration and to facilitate future studies on and clinical applicationsfor disc regeneration.

2. STRUCTURE AND IMMUNE PRIVILEGE OF THE NUCLEUS PULPOSUS

The IVD is composed of the annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus (NP), and cartilaginous endplate (EP) adjacent to vertebral bodies (Figure 1). The main components of the NP are NP cells and a gelatinous extracellular matrix that keeps the NP moistured. In the maturated disc, the NPis wrapped by the outer AF and covered by the upper and lower EPs. Under healthy conditions, there are neither blood vessels nor nerve cells in the NP. This unique architecture makes the NP exempt from the development of immunological tolerance during fetal development and an immune‐privileged organ with no access to the systemic circulation, similar to other immune‐privileged organs, such as the nails, eyes, and brain. ²⁹ , ³⁰ For this reason, immune cells or inflammatory cytokines have not been found in healthy NP. In addition to the physical barriers, recent studies have found that a variety of molecular biological mechanisms are also involved in the maintenance of immune privilege. ³¹ For example, Fas ligand (FasL), which is predominantly expressed in the activated T lymphocytes of immune‐privileged sites, could induce the apoptosis of Fas‐expressing T lymphocytes and macrophages. FasL has been noted to be expressed in healthy NP and thus may play an important role in the maintenance of NP immune privilege. ³² , ³³

FIGURE 1.

Structure of a healthy IVD and herniated IVD. In the case of disc herniation, the protruding disc may compress the concomitant spinal nerve, sensitizing the peripheral neurons in the DRG, eliciting the secondary immune response and finally generate pain. AF, annulus fibrosus; DRG, dorsal root ganglion; NP, nucleus pulposus

3. BROKEN PHYSICAL BARRIERS LEAD TO IMMUNE CELL INFILTRATION

Degenerated IVDs, ruptured AF and extruded NP are the basic pathological anatomies of disc herniation (Figure 1). Disc herniation can be caused by abnormal mechanical overloading ³⁴ and trauma ³⁵ , ³⁶ and is closely associated with IVD degeneration. ³⁷ , ³⁸ When adisc is herniated, the physical barrier between the IVD and the immune system becomes damaged, which exposes the NP to the immune system. Then, the systemic immune system will recognize the “immune‐privileged” NP as a “foreign antigen” andinduce the initial immune response (primary response). In the subsequent stage, with the repair process of the damaged NP and AF, granulation tissue will form, followed by the ingrowth of blood vessels, further exposing NP tissues to immune cells in the bloodstream. In this case, some of the NP matrix is recognized as an autoantigen, which elicits the secondary immune response, which is mediated by cytotoxic T cells. In addition, nondegenerated NP cells strongly express FasL, which can lead to the apoptosis of infiltrated Fas‐positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes. However, FasL expression significantly decreases in degenerated NP cells, ³² which weakens the ability to clear T lymphocytes ³⁹ , ⁴⁰ and further destroys the intradiscal environment.

Several studies have found autoantibodies in degenerated NP. The team of Capossela ⁴¹ found a specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody persisting in degenerated or injured discs, and this IgG antibody was reactive to the matrix proteins in the NP, especially to collagen II and aggrecan, suggesting that such antibodies were one of the factors contributing toIVD degeneration. The research of Mihn ⁴² also confirmed that autoantibodies were significantly higher in human degenerative IVDs than in nondegenerated IVDs. The detection of a humoral response, represented by the immunopositivity to factor VIII and IgG ⁴³ and the number of immune cells, ⁴⁴ was much higher in sequestered IVDs than protruding IVDs, indicating that the immune reactions against IVDs are the consequence, but not the initiating cause, of disc herniation.

4. DRG COMPRESSION BY OR IN CONTACT WITH THE NP INDUCES PAIN

Disc herniation may cause radicular pain, which is induced by pathological changes in the nerve root or DRG after direct contact with or compression by a herniated disc. The DRG is the primary processing center of pain generation and transmission. Traditionally, mechanical compression has been thought to serve as theprimary factor that leads to ischemia, edema, or demyelination in the DRG, which sufficiently induces spontaneous pain that may arise from abnormal production of proinflammatory molecules secreted by both AF and NP cells. ⁴⁵ , ⁴⁶ In the case of disc herniation, the protruding disc may compress the concomitant spinal nerve, sensitizing the peripheral neurons in the DRG and leading to pain. ⁴⁷

In addition, evidence suggests that NP tissue could cause excitatory changes in the DRG even in the absence of mechanical compression. ⁴⁸ , ⁴⁹ Takebayashi et al. ⁵⁰ used neurophysiological techniques in a rat model in vivo to investigate the role of the DRG in radicular pain in LDH. They found that after the application of NP tissue to the nerve root, the DRG demonstrated increased excitability and mechanical hypersensitivity when compared to the control group with the application of fat to the nerve root. Likewise, the application of NP tissue to the nerve root without compression could increase endoneurial fluid pressure and decrease blood flow in the dorsal root ganglia, which was closely related to the subsequent immune and inflammatory reactions. ⁵¹

Neural‐immune interactions play a crucial role in the pain‐producing process, ⁵² with the participation of immune cells, chemokines, and cytokines. Under healthy conditions, macrophages and a small number of T lymphocytes and satellite glial cells reside in the DRG. DeLeo et al. ⁴⁶ demonstrated that satellite glial cells in DRG were activated by the immune system within 24 h, and local macrophages in DRG were activated approximately 1 week later under the influence of activated glial cells. Furthermore, satellite glial cells and macrophages together release mediators such as histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, and chemokines, which in turn aggregate the infiltration of other immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. ⁵³ This reaction reached its peak in approximately 3 weeks and could last for several months. DeLeo ⁴⁶ and Moalem ⁵⁴ found that even after the exposed NP was removed or absorbed, the pain continued. This suggests that as a result of a cascade of neural‐immune responses, the systemic immune reactions are not mitigated even after the stimulus is removed.

Disc degeneration or herniation could lead to increased inflammatory activities in the DRG. In a rat disc degeneration model, nuclear factor kappa B and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2) levels were increased in the DRG to the left and/or right ofthe disc. ⁵⁵ In a rabbit model of torsional injury, a significant increase in most DRG neurotransmitter values was observed 60–90 days later. ⁵⁶ TNF‐α injectionin rat discs also led to increased substance P in DRG. ⁵⁷ In a rat disc herniation model, the M1 macrophage markers chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) and CD86 markedly increased on Day 14 after the surgery and decreased on Day 28 compared to very low expression in naive DRG. ⁵⁸ In contrast, the M2 macrophage markers arginase 1 (Arg1) and CD206 were markedly increased on Day 28 compared to their low expression in naive DRG. ⁵⁸

In addition, activated DRG can release inflammatory cytokines that affect remote uninjured DRG. For example, activated DRG neurons release monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) after peripheral nerve injury. ⁵⁹ Axonal damage in rats significantly increased the activation of genes expressed by immune and inflammatory cells, as revealed by oligonucleotide microarray analysis. ⁶⁰ These factors secreted by the compressed or injured neurons can affect the uninjured DRG over a long distance. In a neuropathic pain model, both compressed and noncompressed DRG neurons showed increased CCR2 ligand and MCP‐1 expression by Day 5. ⁶¹

5. DEGENERATED NP ITSELF CONTRIBUTES TO DISCOGENIC PAIN

In addition to radicular pain, the degenerated disc itself can contribute to LBP. Inherently, the native attempt to address IVD injury or tears is through the process of vascularization and innervation into the disc. In healthy discs, nerve fibers, which include perivascular nerves, sensory nerves independent of blood vessels, and mechanoreceptors, appeared only on the surface of the AF. ⁶² Healthy discs have no substance P‐expressing nerve fibers in the inner AF and NP, which were detected only in degenerated discs. ⁶² , ⁶³ The invasion of nerves may be the consequence of increased nerve growth factor expression during degeneration. ⁶⁴ Since these nerve fibers are unmyelinated and use substance P as the neurotransmitter, their appearance is closely associated with pain. In healthy discs, the NP is avascular, while the EPs and AF have blood supplies in early life that diminish with aging. ⁶⁵ Studies have shown that the density of blood vessels and nerves is positively associated with the degree of the degeneration of the discs. ⁶⁶ Genome‐wide analysis has revealed that the expression of well‐recognized nerve‐related genes is much higher in degenerated human AF, accompanied by increased expression of proinflammatory cytokine‐ and chemokine‐related genes. ⁶⁷ In degenerated and herniated discs, blood vessels and nerves were mostly localized indisrupted tissues with local proteoglycan loss. ⁶⁶ In addition, the vascularization of the inner AF or NP creates conditions for immune cell infiltration, further deteriorating the situation.

6. IMMUNE CELLS INVOLVED IN IVD DEGENERATION

In this section, we revisit the findings about immune cells that have been found to be involved in disc degeneration or herniation, which include macrophages, T cells, B cells, and NK cells.

6.1. Macrophages

Macrophages can play a role in immune defense by phagocytosing bacteria or cell debris. In addition, macrophages also play an important role in immune reactions by secreting cytokines that can regulate the immune response. The detection of macrophages in degenerated or herniated discs has been reported in human and animal models. The infiltration of macrophages could occur in mouse IVDs at Days 1–4 afterdisc injury. ⁶⁸ , ⁶⁹ In human herniated discs, macrophages were detected in 37% of all 205 specimens. ⁴⁴ In 25% of protruded human IVDs, macrophages, but no other inflammatory cells, were found. ⁴⁴ In a rat NP explant study, the infiltration of macrophages into nondegenerated NP transplanted under the abdominal skin was detectable. ⁷⁰ Moreover, a significantly higher NP cell survival rate was found when the recipient was immunedeficient rather than wild‐type. ⁷⁰ Furthermore, the function of macrophages in herniated discs is different from that of macrophages in nonherniated discs. ⁷¹ While the main function of the former was to promote the reabsorption of prominent tissue and participate in the process of blood vessel ingrowth, the latter's main function was to remove the necrotic tissue and secrete inflammatory cytokines. ⁷¹ For example, in the IVDs of patients with discogenic pain, macrophages release a variety of inflammatory cytokines (such as IL‐1, IL‐6, and TNF‐α). ⁷² In vitro, the coculture of NP cells with macrophages promoted the expression of TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐8, and COX‐2. ⁷³ These inflammatory cytokines have a significant effect on inducing hyperalgesia and are the most likely to be involved in the occurrence of discogenic pain.

6.2. T cells

The presence of T cells has been reported in degenerated or herniated discs. In a human disc study, abundant activated T cells were detected in 17% of all 205 herniated discs. ⁴⁴ In widely used TNF‐α transgenic mice with evidenced spontaneous annular tears and disc herniation, neutrophil, macrophage, and mast cell infiltration was found in extruded discs, whereas the additional presence of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells was found in pronounced herniated discs. ⁷⁴ In rat herniated NP, the number of Th1 cells was greatly increased on Day 14 but decreased on Day 28, while the number of Th2 cells was increased on Day 28. ⁵⁸ In a porcine study, the proportion of activated T cells (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺) was significantly higher in the exudate of the perforated titanium chamber containing nondegenerated porcine NP explantsthan in that of empty chambers. ⁷⁵ Geiss et al. ⁷⁶ further found in porcine models that 3 weeks after the exposure of autologous NP to the systemic immune system, T lymphocytes were primed into IL‐4‐producing CD4⁺ Th2 cells and promoted the autoimmune response in the disc through released IL and TNF‐α, leading to the occurrence of pain. The infiltration of T lymphocytes was detectable at Day 3 and reached the reaction peak at approximately Day 21. ⁷⁶

6.3. B cells

The presence of B cells has been reported in human discs. In Virri's study, B cells were detected in 16% of all the examined human herniated discs. ⁴⁴ In an NP explant study that placed nondegenerated porcine NP in perforated titanium chambers subcutaneously in recipient pigs, the proportion of immunoglobulin kappa‐expressing activated B cells was significantly increased in the exudate of the NP‐filled chambers compared to empty chambers. ⁷⁵

6.4. NK cells

The detection of NK cells in herniated or degenerated discsis rarely reported. We found only one study, in which Murai et al. reported the infiltration of NK cells into the nondegenerated NP transplanted under the abdominal skin of recipient rats. ⁷⁰

7. IMMUNE CYTOKINES INVOLVED IN IVD DEGENERATION/HERNIATION

Cytokines are small proteins or peptides constitutively expressed on the cell surface in precursor forms. They are synthesized and secreted by immune or other types of cells and participate in immune activation and inflammatory reactions. Currently, cytokines are classified into two opposing categories, as demonstrated in Table 1. One category is proinflammatory cytokines, including IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐6, and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ). The other category is anti‐inflammatory cytokines, such as IL‐4, IL‐10, and TGF‐β. To date, various cytokines have been identified in degenerated IVDs. ⁷⁷ Wang et al. ⁷⁸ found that treatment with TNF‐α or IL‐1β led to increased secretion of CCL3, but not CCL4, in degenerated NP cells, which in turn promoted macrophage infiltration that could be blocked by an antagonist of its ligand CCR1. In this section, we summarize the immune cytokines related to IVD degeneration/herniation and discuss how they may be involved in pain production.

TABLE 1.

Proinflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines in discogenic pain

Cytokines	Category	Primary source	Function in neuroimmunologic pain	Expression during IVD degeneration
TNF‐α	Proinflammatory	Schwann cells, macrophages, mast cells, and neutrophils	Sensitize and enhance the excitability of neurons; promote sustained inflammatory response	Increased
IL‐1β	Proinflammatory	Macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells	Increase excitability of neurons	Increased
IL‐6	Proinflammatory	Mast cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, neurons, and glial cells	Decrease thermal activation and pain threshold; increase excitability of neurons	Increased
IFN‐γ	Proinflammatory	Th1 cells; astrocytes and damaged neurons	Induce spontaneous pain and pain hypersensitivity	Increased
IL‐10	Anti‐inflammatory	T cells, B cells, macrophages, and mast cells	Inhibit the release IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α	Reduced
TGF‐β	Anti‐inflammatory	Activated T cells and B cells	Inhibit proinflammatory cytokine (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α) release and promote expression of endogenous opioids	Increased
IL‐4	Anti‐inflammatory	T cells, mast cells, and granulocytes	Suppress the expression of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α	Increased

Abbreviations: IFN‐γ, interferon‐gamma; IL, interleukin; TGF‐β, transforming growth factor‐β; TNF‐α, tumor necrosis factor‐α.

7.1. TNF‐α

TNF‐α is recognized as a major proinflammatory cytokine. It is also known as a pain‐inducing factor, with the ability to promote a cascade of immune reactions and cytokine production. Patients with degenerated IVDs showed elevated TNF‐α levels in IVDs and peripheral serum. ⁷⁹ TNF‐α overexpression or treatment led to spontaneous IVD herniation ⁸⁰ and COX‐2 expression, ⁸¹ while TNF‐α inhibition at the time of IVD puncture limited degeneration and pain in animal models. ⁸² In animal models, changes in neuronal properties can be caused by topical application of TNF‐α to the nerve root and DRG, which decreased the pain threshold required to activate nerve C‐fibers. ⁸³ At the initial stage of injury, macrophages, mast cells, and glial cells in the DRG‐released endogenous TNF‐α to induce a rapid immune response, leading to a subsequent cascade of inflammation. ⁸⁴ In the next 3–5 days, immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils) infiltrated from the circulation released additional TNF‐α, forming a positive feedback loop to promote immune inflammation and decrease pain thresholds. ⁸⁵ Then, a systemic immune response was initiated, and the expression of TNF‐α in remote DRG was also increased in distant areas of the body. ⁸⁶ In summary, TNF‐α is mainly released by immune cells around neurons and immune glial cells, which can sensitize and enhance the excitability of neurons and promote a sustained inflammatory response at various levels of the nervous system. However, TNF‐α is required for the production of IL‐6 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), an inflammatory mediator to induce pain and enhance pain sensitivity, but not for IL‐8 production ⁷³ in IVD autografts; therefore, TNF‐α is not the sole cytokine that initiates all immune reactions in the disc.

7.2. IL‐1β

IL‐1 is secreted by a variety of immune cells or immune‐like glial cells, including macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells. Global IL‐1α/β knockout in mice resulted in a more degenerative phenotype in the AF and changes in collagen type and maturity, accompanied by alterations in systemic cytokine levels and vertebral bone morphology. ⁸⁷ Studies have shown that IL‐1β expression was correlated with, or upregulated, the expression of chemokines, such as CCL5, ⁸⁸ CCL3, and CCL4, ⁸⁹ indicating that IL‐1β can activate monocytes‐macrophages and aggravate inflammatory cell infiltration. Similar to TNF‐α, IL‐1β has also been demonstrated to increase the excitability of neurons. DRG neurons are susceptible to IL‐1β, with a short period of application resulting in the potentiation of heat‐activated inward currents and a shift of activation thresholds toward lower temperature. ⁹⁰ When NP cells isolated from herniated discs were stimulated with IL‐1β, a significant increase in the production of PGE2 was observed. ⁹¹ In addition, IL‐1 can also elevate the expression level of intercellular cell adhesion molecule‐1, which has a chemotactic effect on promoting the recruitment of inflammatory cells, leading to neuropathic pain. ⁹² However, IL‐1β differs from TNF‐α in that IL‐1β, but not TNF‐α, stimulates matrix degradation. ⁹³ Taken together, the evidence for IL‐1β in enhancing synaptic transmission and neuronal activity at several locations of the nervous system is strong, suggesting its prominent role in inflammatory cascades.

7.3. IL‐6

IL‐6 is a proinflammatory cytokine mainly released by mast cells, macrophages, lymphocytes (activated T cells and B cells), neurons, and glial cells. Patients with degenerated IVDs had increased levels of IL‐6 in serum ⁹⁴ as well as in IVDs. ⁹⁵ IL‐1β/TNF‐α stimulated IL‐6 levels in cultured human AF cells. ⁹⁶ Recently, Sainoh et al. ⁹⁷ found that the injection of IL‐6 receptor antibody reduced pain in LBP patients. Moreover, IL‐6 is also an effective serum marker of LBP. Weber investigated the serum levels of various cytokines in LBP patients. ⁹⁸ Among IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, IL‐13, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1, MMP‐3, and MMP‐9, only IL‐6 showed significantly higher serum levels in LBP subjects than in control subjects. ⁹⁸ Haddadiet al. found that IL‐6 serum levels were greatly reduced in LDH patients with radicular pain after lumbar disc surgery. ⁹⁹ All these findings suggest that IL‐6 is a strong pain indicator in discogenic LBP. However, the role of IL‐6 in modulating acute pain is less clear than that of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. For instance, IL‐6 did not show an effect on themechanical threshold ¹⁰⁰ or thermal hypoalgesia. ¹⁰¹ It was not until Obreja et al. ¹⁰² found that the application of IL‐6 in vitro in combination with its soluble receptor directly potentiated heat‐activated inward currents in cultured DRG neurons and resulted in a decreased thermal activation threshold that the association of IL‐6 with discogenic pain was realized. IL‐6 can induce the aggregation of inflammatory cells, activate the release of inflammatory mediators, and promote the process of IVD degeneration. Brazda et al. ¹⁰³ used sciatic nerve ligature to investigate temporal changes in IL‐6 and its receptor gp130 in both ipsilateral and contralateral DRG in rats. They found increased IL‐6 expression not only in the DRG associated with the damaged nerve but also in those not associated with nerve injury in the experimental neuropathic pain model. ¹⁰³ Furthermore, the research of Koerner ¹⁰⁴ provided evidence that substance P led to the activation of the inflammatory pathway by increasing IL‐6 expression, suggesting that IL‐6 may be an important link between IVD degeneration and LBP.

7.4. IFN‐γ

IFN‐γ is released by Th1 cells, which infiltrate into damaged neurons. IFN‐γ has been implicated in many chronic pain states, including neuropathic pain. ¹⁰⁵ The application of IFN‐γ can cause the spontaneous firing of dorsal horn neurons in vivo and increase the response to stimulation. ¹⁰⁶ Luchting et al. ¹⁰⁷ investigated the systemic T cell subset responses and profiles of T cell‐related cytokines, such as macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and IL‐4, in patients with chronic neuropathic pain. They found that T cell subsets and their related cytokines played a role in anti‐inflammation. IFN‐γ appears to induce central sensitization by several mechanisms and is a potent proinflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. In a study of the application of NP tissue to spinal dorsal nerve roots, the level of IFN‐γ in exposed NP tissue was increased relative to native tissue, and a positive correlation between IFN‐γ and the macrophage marker CD68 in NP tissue was found. ¹⁰⁸ The serum level of IFN‐γ in LBP patients is not significantly different from that in healthy controls. ⁹⁸ Interestingly, IFN‐γ antibodies could prevent the elevation of IL‐6 in NP exposed to DRG, ¹⁰⁹ indicating a role of IFN‐γ in IL‐6 signaling.

7.5. IL‐10

IL‐10 is known as an anti‐inflammatory cytokine. IL‐10 is released by activated T cells, B cells, macrophages, and mast cells. ¹¹⁰ Reduced IL‐10 expression was found in rat disc degeneration models. ¹¹¹ IL‐10 treatment suppresses the expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α as a consequence of the impeded development of inflammatory responses. ¹¹² Moreover, serum levels of IL‐10 are reported to be lower in LBP patients than controls. ¹¹³ Zhou et al. ¹¹⁴ demonstrated that IL‐10 led to a reduction in pain sensitivity in the spinal dorsal horn induced by formalin injection. Following injury to the sciatic nerve and DRG in a mouse model, the expression level of IL‐10 was increased. ¹¹⁵ Taken together, increasing the expression of IL‐10 by gene therapy or drugs may result insubstantial inhibitory effects on acute disc‐related pain.

7.6. TGF‐β

TGF‐β is mainly produced by activated T cells and B cells. TGF‐β is mainly regarded as an anti‐inflammatory cytokine with a wide variety of functions, including promoting cell survival, inhibiting apoptosis, stimulating cell proliferation or inducing cell differentiation. ¹¹⁶ For example, TGF‐β can downregulate the TNF‐α expression induced by IFN‐γ and IL‐1β, antagonizethe MMP3 expression induced by TNF‐α, ²¹ downregulate CCL4 expression and reduce pain behavior in rats. ²² TGF‐β1 was reported to be upregulated in NP tissues of patients and rats with IDD. ¹¹⁷ In a rat model, intradiscal TGF‐β1 injection prevented the inflammatory response in DRG and pain development. ²² Similar to IL‐10, TGF‐β treatment suppressed the expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α and inhibited the development of inflammatory responses in degenerated IVD cells. ¹¹² In degenerated IVDs, when combined with carboxymethylcellulose as a scaffold, TGF‐β3 stimulated IVD cell proliferation and extracellular matrix production in vitro. ¹¹⁸ In a model of neuropathy, TGF‐β significantly attenuated the development of pain hypersensitivity and reversed previously established pain. ¹¹⁹ In both the glial cells and the neurons of DRG, TGF‐β suppressed their activation and proliferation, inhibited proinflammatory cytokine release, and reduced sensitivity to pain. ¹²⁰

7.7. IL‐4

IL‐4 is an anti‐inflammatory cytokine thatis released by activated T cells, mast cells and granulocytes. IL‐4 is known as an inhibitor of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α. IL‐4 can stimulate the activation of B cells, promote T cells to differentiate into the Th2 phenotype, and suppress the activation of macrophages. IL‐4 was virtually nonexistent in healthy discs, while the immunoreactivity was increased in degenerated and herniated IVD tissue. ¹²¹ A meta‐analysis found significantly more IL‐4 expression in the IVDs but not in the blood samples of IDD patients. ¹²² IL‐4 treatment downregulated LPS‐stimulated inflammatory responses, including the production of IFN‐β, IL‐12, IL‐6, and IL‐8 in IVD cells. ¹²³ Similarly, the overexpression of IL‐4 in vivo ¹²⁴ suppressed c‐Fos immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and impededthe upregulation of spinal PGE2, IL‐1β, and phosphorylated‐p38 MAP kinase. Further investigation would be desirable to elucidate therole of IL‐4 in IVD degeneration and herniation.

7.8. IL‐8

IL‐8 is also known as chemokine CXCL8. IL‐8 is a cytokine secreted by macrophages and epithelial cells. IL‐1β/TNF‐α stimulation enhanced the production of IL‐8 from cultured human AF cells. ⁹⁶ In a trauma model induced by overloading, injured human IVDs with broken EPs secreted increased IL‐8. ¹²⁵ Among IL‐8, TNF‐α, and IL‐1α, which are strongly expressed in human degenerated disc tissues, IL‐8 had the strongest association with pain scores. ¹²⁶ In the cerebrospinal fluid of chronic LBP patients with disc degeneration, IL‐8 was elevated compared to that in pain‐free subjects with or without disc degeneration. ¹²⁷ In the injured sciatic nerve, a significant increase in IL‐8 was observed following partial sciatic ligation. ¹²⁸ Furthermore, anti‐IL‐8 antibodies can reduce the release of nerve growth factor. ¹²⁹ Together, these results indicate that the suppression of IL‐8 may be beneficial for relieving disc‐associated pain.

8. CONCLUSION

Even though there is growing evidence for immune and glial cells and their mediators playingan important role in maintaining the immune privilege status of the NP, as well as being involved in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration, the complex interactions of these participants remain unclear. Understanding the role of the immune system in disc‐related pain may lead to a better appreciation of the nature of pain and therapeutic approaches.

In this review, we discuss possible immune events during disc herniation and degeneration. The summary of the procedure is illustratedin Figure 2. In brief, the NP is an immune‐privileged tissue protected from immune tolerance during fetal development due to its avascular nature. At times of trauma, long‐term abnormal loading or gradual disc degeneration occurs when the AF ring is weakened, the AF is ruptured and the NP leaks out. The protruded NP may compress the DRG and activate the macrophages, T lymphocytes and glial cells in the DRG, which secrete chemokines to attract more immune cells and release more inflammatory cytokines, leading to further inflammation and radicular pain. At the same time, the systemic circulation recognizes the NP as a foreign antigen and initiates an immune reaction to attack it. As a native attempt to repair injured tissue, nerves and blood vessels, which are distributed in the outer AF under healthy circumstances, grow into the inner AF or even the NP. Thus, immune cells can directly contact the NP during disc herniation or infiltrate into the NP during disc degeneration, probably through the established vascularization, and react with the NP to produce autoantibodies, elicit immune reactions and release cytokines to amplify inflammation, which act on the invaded nerve, resulting in local pain or referred pain caused by sinuvertebral nerve irritation. However, this theory may not explain all typesof disc‐related pain observed in the clinic, as in some patients with discogenic pain, no sign of neurovascular ingrowth in the NP can be observed.

FIGURE 2.

Schematic diagram demonstrates immune cascades in disc‐related pain producing. When the protruding nucleus pulposus tissue breaks through the immune barrier and is recognized by the immune system, the immune cells in the blood circulation (such as T cells and macrophages) are activated to release ； (CCL2/CCL3), and more immune cells in the blood (such as T cells and macrophages) are activated and aggregated toward NP and DRG. Simultaneously, the release of inflammatory mediators (TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐1/6, etc.) and inhibitory mediators (TGF‐β, IL‐4/10, etc.) activates the immune cells (such as T cells and macrophages) in NP and DRG tissues. Eventually, both immune cells from different sources jointly release inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1/6, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, etc.) to activate sensory neurons and produce pain. IFN‐γ, interferon‐gamma; IL, interleukin; TGF‐β, transforming growth factor‐β; TNF‐α, tumor necrosis factor‐α

The administration of anti‐inflammatory drugs may help to dampen immune reactions and alleviate disc degeneration. As Kim reported, ¹³⁰ the inhibition of IL‐1 by lactoferricin can deliver anti‐inflammatory and anticatabolic effects in culture models. We previously found that Wnt5a can inhibit TNF‐α‐induced inflammatory signaling and suppress IVD degeneration. ²³ Nevertheless, caution should be taken when designing anti‐inflammatory therapies, since studies have shown that although the silencing of key proinflammatory cytokines may reduce inflammatory reactions in vivo, it does not always indicate a less degenerated IVD as a result. For example, IL‐1 knockout in mice resulted in reduced serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines during agingcompared to those in wild‐type mice. ⁸⁷ However, rather than protecting the animals from degeneration, IL‐1 knockout mice exhibited a more degenerated phenotype, represented by a less stable AF and smaller NP with alterations in collagen type and maturity. ⁸⁷ This finding may indicate that the absolute absence of IL‐1 is not beneficial to disc development and, thus, that although a dampened immune reaction may be beneficial to patients, the dose and administration protocol of the drugs may matter and should be carefully designed to achieve the desired effect.

Many studies are underway to design regenerative strategies for discs, especially with mesenchymal stem cells as a tool. ¹³¹ , ¹³² In addition to their potential to give rise to NP‐like cells, ¹³³ mesenchymal stem cells also have anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, which may suppress inflammation in the disc. ¹³⁴ However, the impact of the inflammatory condition inside the disc on the survival and function of these cells should be taken into consideration to maximize the effect. In addition, endogenous progenitor cells were recently identified in all three compartments of the IVD, ¹³⁵ , ¹³⁶ highlighting a novel cell source for disc repair. Knowledge on how these progenitor cells may help the herniated or degenerated discs to repair and how they react to the inflammatory microenvironment awaits further research.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflic of interests.

Ye, F. , Lyu, F.‐J. , Wang, H. , & Zheng, Z. (2022). The involvement of immune system in intervertebral disc herniation and degeneration. JOR Spine, 5(1), e1196. 10.1002/jsp2.1196