Aim: To elucidate the role of the TIR-domain-containing adaptor-inducing interferon-? (TRIF) dependent pathway in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD).
Material and methods: A total of adult male patients with low back pain (LBP) (+/- radicular pain) were further evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with surgical indication for microscopic lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Preoperatively, patients were classified according to Modic Changes (MC), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use, and the presence of radicular pain in addition to the LBP.
Results: The age of the 88 patients ranged from 19 to 75 years (mean: 47.3 ± 19.6 years). Twenty eight of the patients were evaluated as MC I (31.8%), 40 as MC II (45.4%), and 20 as MC III (22.7%). The majority of patients (81.8%) had radicular LBP, while 16 patients (18.1%) had only LBP. Predominantly, 55.6% of all patients were taking NSAIDs. Levels of all adaptor molecules were highest in the MC I group and lowest in the MC III group. The levels of IRF3, TICAM1, TICAM2, NF-kB p65, TRAF6, and TLR4 were significantly increased in the MC I group compared to the MC II and MC III groups. The variations of the individual adaptor molecules showed no statistically significant difference in the use of NSAIDs and radicular LBP.
Conclusion: As a result of the impact assessment, the current study clearly demonstrated for the first time that the TRIFdependent signalling pathway plays a crucial role in the degeneration process in human lumbar intervertebral disc specimens.