Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.
Published on: February 14, 2021
[Association of transforming growth factor-β1 with pathological grading of intervertebral disc degeneration]
Yang Yang1, Xiaofeng He, Yanhao Li
1Department of Interventional Radiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. yang1023yang@yahoo.com.cn
Objective:
To explore the role of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in intervertebral disc degeneration and its association with the pathological grading of disc degeneration.
Methods:
Normal and degenerative intervertebral disc tissues were collected were classified into 5 grades of increasing degenerative changes. HE staining, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL staining and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of TGF-β1 in the disc tissues.
Results:
Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed positive expressions of TGF-β1 and Bcl-2 in normal disc tissues, where Bax was expressed at have a trace level. In the degenerative disc tissues, TGF-β1 expression increased with the pathological grades; the expression levels of TGF-β1 showed significant differences between degenerative and normal tissues and between grade IV and grade I disc tissues (P<0.01).
Conclusion:
TGF-β1 is an important factor participating in the disc degeneration and its expression level is closely related to the pathological grade of degenerative discs.
Related Concept Videos
Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction
Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
