Study on the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in cervical spondylotic myelopathy and the relationship of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Objective: To explore the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in human nucleus pulposus tissue of cervical intervertebral disc,and the relationship of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).Methods: Nucleus pulposus tissues of cervical intervertebral discs were obtained from 25 cases of patients treated with anterior cervical decompression,17 cases of CSM (CSM group) and 8 cases of cervical spine fracture or fracture-dislocation patients (NC group).Morphological changes of nucleus pulposus tissue were observed,the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,TNF-α mRNA and IL-1β mRNA in nucleus pulposus tissue were measured.Results: There was statistically significant difference in age between the 2 groups(P < 0.05),but no statistically significant difference in gender and cervical position(P > 0.05).Compared with NC group,collagen fibers in nucleus pulposus tissue of cervical disc were disordered,the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in nucleus pulposus tissue of cervical disc were increased significantly(P < 0.01),and the expressions of TNF-α mRNA and IL-1β mRNA were increased significantly in CSM group(P < 0.01).Conclusions: The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were increasedsignificantly cervical intervertebral disk of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy,which may be associated with the occurrence and development of CSM.