关键词: 退行性腰椎间盘疾病, 腰椎间盘突出症, 神经生长因子, P75神经生长因子受体

Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor, P75 neurotrophin receptor (P75NTR) in disc specimens obtained from patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and degenerative disc disease (DDD). Methods Human intervertebral disc samples were obtained from patients during surgery. The expression of NGF and P75NTR was detected by immunohistochemistry method. Results Immune positive staining was observed for both NGF and P75NTR..Cellular staining was predominantly localised intracellularly within the cytoplasm of chondrocyte-like cells of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrous tissue..NGF and P75NTR immunopositivity were 25.8% and 23.7% in disc tissue from LDH patient respectively..For DDD patient,the immunopositivity of NGF and P75NTR were 39.7% and 38.7% respectively.Immunopositivity of NGF and P75NTR were significantly greater in the DDD group than in the LDH group..No statistical correlation between the levels of NGF and P75NTR and the degree of disc degeneration in either DDD group or LDH group was found. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the greater levels of NGF and P75NTR expression in the DDD group than in the LDH group may contribute more severe low back pain in DDD patients than patients with LDH.

Key words: Degenerative disc disease, Lumbar disc herniation, Nerve growth factor, P75 neurotrophin receptor