Expressions of IL-1 alpha and MMP-9 in degenerated lumbar disc tissues and their clinical significance

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression levels of interleukin-la (IL-1 alpha) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in degenerated lumbar disc tissues and to investigate their clinical significance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with lumbar disc degeneration received the operative treatment were divided into three groups according to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results: protrusion group, extrusion group, and free group. The degenerated intervertebral disc tissues were taken, and the normal intervenebral disc tissues of 20 patients received the operative treatment due to lumbar bursting fracture, and were selected as the control group. The bone mineral densities of all patients were measured. The mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP9 and IL-l alpha were detected via Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. RESULTS: The bone mass of patients with lumbar disc degeneration was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group, and the bone mass was decreased more significantly in a free group than that in protrusion group. The mRNA and protein levels in IL-l alpha and MMP-9 of patients with lumbar disc degeneration were significantly increased compared with those in control group; the mRNA and protein levels in IL-l alpha and MMP-9 of extrusion group and free group were significantly higher than those in protrusion group, and the mRNA and protein levels in IL-l alpha and MMP-9 of free group were significantly higher than those in extrusion group. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of IL-l alpha and MMP9 in degenerated lumbar disc tissues are higher than normal levels, and the increasing levels are positively correlated with the disease condition.