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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2026

An In vitro Model to Study Heterogeneity of Human Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization

An In vitro Model to Study Heterogeneity of Human Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization

Published on: June 12, 2013

Exploring macrophage differentiation and its relation to Modic changes in human herniated disc tissue.

N Djuric^1,2, G C M Lafeber^1,2, W Li^1,2

¹University Neurosurgical Center Holland, the Netherlands.

|January 6, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Macrophage infiltration influences disc herniation symptoms. This study found anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages dominate in herniated discs, with CD163 being a key marker, while Modic changes showed no direct link to macrophage types.

Keywords:

Cervical Inflammation Intervertebral disc herniation Lumbar M1 M2 Macrophage Modic changes

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Published on: June 22, 2017

Area of Science:

Immunology
Orthopedics
Pathology

Background:

Macrophage infiltration is implicated in cervical and lumbosacral radiculopathy caused by disc herniation.
Vertebral endplate changes, such as Modic changes (MC), may correlate with the disc's inflammatory state.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess immunohistochemical markers for differentiating M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory) macrophages in herniated disc tissue.
To investigate the association between macrophage differentiation patterns and Modic changes in the vertebral endplates.

Main Methods:

Analyzed 45 herniated disc samples from patients with radiculopathy using immunohistochemistry.
Stained for macrophage markers (CD68), M1 markers (CD40, iNOS, CD192), M2 markers (CD163, Arg1, CD209), T-cells (CD3), and neutrophils (CD15).

Main Results:

CD68+ cells were present; M2 markers (CD163, CD209) showed higher expression than M1 markers (CD192).
Lumbar samples exhibited greater iNOS and Arg1 expression than cervical samples.
Modic changes correlated with higher CD68+ cell density, but not significantly with specific M1/M2 marker expression.

Conclusions:

CD192 and CD163 are suitable markers for M1 and M2 macrophages, respectively.
Symptomatic disc herniations show a predominance of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages.
Further large-scale studies are needed to clarify the relationship between macrophage differentiation and Modic changes in radiculopathy.