Published in:
17-11-2023 | Back Pain | Neuropathic Pain (A Abd-Elsayed, Section Editor)
Roles of Chemokines in Intervertebral Disk Degeneration
Authors:
Pengfei Xue, Yi Wang, Long Lv, Dongming Wang, Yuntao Wang
Published in:
Current Pain and Headache Reports
|
Issue 3/2024
Login to get access
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Intervertebral disc degeneration is the primary etiology of low back pain and radicular pain. This review examines the roles of crucial chemokines in different stages of degenerative disc disease, along with interventions targeting chemokine function to mitigate disc degeneration.
Recent Findings
The release of chemokines from degenerated discs facilitates the infiltration and activation of immune cells, thereby intensifying the inflammatory cascade response. The migration of immune cells into the venous lumen is concomitant with the emergence of microvascular tissue and nerve fibers. Furthermore, the presence of neurogenic factors secreted by disc cells and immune cells stimulates the activation of pain-related cation channels in the dorsal root ganglion, potentially exacerbating discogenic and neurogenic pain and intensifying the degenerative cascade response mediated by chemokines.
Summary
Gaining a deeper comprehension of the functions of chemokines and immune cells in these processes involving catabolism, angiogenesis, and injury detection could offer novel therapeutic avenues for managing symptomatic disc disease.