Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
A Proinflammatory, Degenerative Organ Culture Model to Simulate Early-Stage Intervertebral Disc Disease.
Published on: February 14, 2021
Can proinflammatory cytokine gene expression explain multifidus muscle fiber changes after an intervertebral disc
Paul W Hodges1, Gregory James, Linda Blomster
1*The University of Queensland, Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Australia; and †University of Sydney, Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, Australia.
Study Design:
Longitudinal case-controlled animal study.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of an intervertebral disc (IVD) lesion on the proportion of slow, fast, and intermediate muscle fiber types in the multifidus muscle in sheep, and whether muscle fiber changes were paralleled by local gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1-β.
Summary Of Background Data:
Structure and behavior of the multifidus muscle change in acute and chronic back pain, but the mechanisms are surprisingly poorly understood and the link between structure and behavior is tenuous. Although changes in muscle fiber types have the potential to unify the observations, the effect of injury on muscle fiber distribution has not been adequately tested, and understanding of possible mechanisms is limited.
Methods:
The L1-L2, L3-L4, and L5-L6 IVDs of 11 castrated male sheep received anterolateral lesions. Six control sheep underwent no surgical procedures. Multifidus muscle tissue was harvested at L4 for muscle fiber analysis using immunohistochemistry and L2 for cytokine analysis with polymerase chain reaction for local gene expression of TNF-α and interleukin-1β.
Results:
The proportion of slow muscle fibers in multifidus was significantly less in the lesioned animals both ipsilateral and contralateral to the IVD lesion. The greatest reduction in slow fibers was in the deep medial muscle region. A greater prevalence of intermediate fibers on the uninjured side implies a delayed fiber-type transformation on that side. TNF-α gene expression in multifidus was greater on both sides in the lesion animals than in the muscle of control animals. Interleukin-1β was increased only on the injured side.
Conclusion:
These data provide evidence of muscle fiber changes after induction of an IVD lesion and a parallel increase in TNF-α expression. Proinflammatory cytokine changes provide a novel mechanism to explain behavioral and structural changes in multifidus.
Level Of Evidence:
N/A.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
01:27Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:12Chronic Inflammation: Introduction
01:29Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
01:28Inflammatory Response
Inflammation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as impact, abrasion, chemical irritation, infections, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. These can damage cells and connective tissue fibers,...