A Controlled Biochemical and Immunohistochemical Study of Human Synovial-Type (Group II) Phospholipase A2 and Inflammatory Cells in Macroscopically Normal, Degenerated, and Herniated Human Lumbar Disc Tissues

Abstract

Synovial-type (Group II) phospholipase A2 enzyme activity is not particularly high in disc tissue and does not appear to be higher in herniated or degenerated discs than control disc tissue. Immunoreactivity to phospholipase A2 is seen only occasionally and is strong only when cartilage tissue is present. Neither are inflammatory lymphocytes commonly observed.