Etiology and Pathogenesis of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Abstract

This paper presents data on the etiology and pathogenesis of degenerative changes in the intervertebral disk. At present, it is established that the chronic inflammatory process is formed in the places of local decrease of oxygen supply. Taken together, these conditions contribute to the reduction of cells in the disc controlling the matrix and degenerative processes become irreversible. Polymorphism was also detected in genes encoding MP-3 and a correlation with an increased risk of degenerative changes in elderly patients was found. In the pathogenesis of degenerative changes there are mechanical effects, changes in the composition of extracellular matrix, reaction of proinflammatory cytokines, neurotrophin expression in degenerating disc, and activation of matrix metalloproteinases.