Possible Etiological Role of IL-10, IL-17 Levels, CD4+ and CD68 in the Pathogenesis of Herniated Disc in Iraqi Patients

Herniated (prolapsed) discs HD is a multifactor disease that afflicts around 9% of the global population and occurs when the nucleus pulposus NP bulges and pushes on the ruptured annulus fibrosus AF, releasing substances that may irritate the surrounding nerves and cause inflammation that leads to extensive histopathological and immunological changes. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the etiological role of IL-10, IL-17 levels, CD4+, and CD68 in the pathogenesis of herniated disc in Iraqi patients. The immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 30 excised HD specimens taken during endoscopic discectomy, and stored in the fixative solution (formalin 10%). Cytokines (IL-10 and IL-17) were measured by using their Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ELISA kits, in sera of 40 patients who were diagnosed with HDs as a case group, in addition to 20 healthy as a control group. The results revealed that the CD4+ expression was negative in 70% of the HD samples, while only 8 HD samples were negative for CD68 expression. On the other hand, results of ELISA analysis recorded high levels of IL-10 with low levels of IL-17 in HD patients sera compared with control sera. According to the above it can concluded that immunohistochemical analysis of HD tissues showed infiltration of CD4+ and CD68. Also compared to controls high levels of IL-10 in HD samples combined with low levels of IL-17.