Objective: To evaluate intervertebral disc levels of inflammatory factor (interleukin 6) and proteinase activity (cathepsin B) in patients with a degenerative disease and serum levels of interleukin 6, serum cathepsin B activity and hyaluronic acid biomarkers. Methods: We conducted immunohistochemistry studies of intervertebral discs to analyze interleukin 6 and cathepsin B levels of patients with degenerative disease and spine fracture (Control Group) and to measure hyaluronic acid, interleukin 6 and cathepsin B activity from sera of intervertebral disc degeneration patients, fracture patients, and healthy individuals. Results: Interleukin 6 and cathepsin B seem to be related with physiopathology of intervertebral disc degeneration, since the levels of both were higher in discs of patients with intervertebral disc degeneration. Interleukin 6 and cathepsin B do not represent good biomarkers of degenerative intervertebral disc disease, since the level of such compounds is increased in the plasma of patients with fractures. Conclusion: Hyaluronic acid can be a biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration, because hyaluronic acid levels were higher only in sera of patients with intervertebral disc degeneration.
Approximately 80% of the world population experiences some type of back pain at some point in their life, and in 10% of this population the pain causes chronic disability resulting in a high cost for the treatment of these patients, in addition to compromising their work and social interaction abilities. Current treatment strategies include the surgical procedure for degenerated intervertebral disc resection, the nerve root block and physiotherapy. However, such treatments only relieve symptoms and do not prevent the degeneration of intervertebral discs. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies have emerged and include manipulating cells to recover the degenerated disc. This article will discuss the possible cell therapy alternatives used in the disc regeneration process, featuring a descriptive study of translational medicine that involves clinical aspects of new treatment alternatives and knowledge of basic research areas, such as cellular and molecular biology. Level of evidence V; Expert Opinion.
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