Human Nucleus Pulposis Can Respond to a Pro-inflammatory Stimulus

Abstract

We conclude that both scoliotic and degenerate human nucleus pulposus can respond to an exogenous pro-inflammatory stimulus by secreting increased amounts of IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 but not TNF-alpha and that degenerate disc tissue is more sensitive to a pro-inflammatory stimulus than its scoliotic counterpart.