Interleukin-23 may contribute to the pathogenesis of lumbar disc herniation through the IL-23/IL-17 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Studies have indicated that interleukin 23 (IL-23) plays an important role in many inflammatory- and autoimmune-related diseases. However, there is little knowledge about IL-23 in lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Thus, in this study, we aimed to find out whether IL-23 is expressed in intervertebral discs (IVDs) and what roles it may play.

METHODS: Human IVD tissues were collected from 29 LDH patients and 8 vertebral fracture patients (normal control, NC group). According to the integrity of annulus fibrosus, LDH patients were divided into two groups: R group (ruptured group, n = 16) and NR group (non-ruptured group, n = 13). Morphological changes of IVDs were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE staining), and expression of IL-23 in IVD tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Besides gene expression of IL-23, IL-17, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α was also evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS: The results showed that the R group was more degenerated than the other two groups and NC group showed the least degenerated performance; stronger positive IL-23 expression was observed in herniated IVDs, especially in the R group. Meanwhile, higher gene expression of IL-23, IL-17, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α was found in the tissues from LDH patients and a positive correlation between IL-17 and IL-23 gene expression was also observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Taken all above results together, it may be deduced that higher expression of IL-23 may contribute to the deterioration of IVDs through the IL-23/IL-17 pathway.