[The study of the role of intervertebral disc neovascularization and immune response in the pathogenesis of lumbar discopathy].

In adult humans moral intervertebral disc (id) is an avascular tissue and becomes so called sequestrated autoantigen. Any acquired defect of anulus fibrosus may potentially lead to contact of immunocompetent cells circulating in the blood with id antigens thus inducing autoimmune reaction. 34 patients operated on because of lumbar discopathy were studied. The id injury was divided into: a) protrusion, B) simple prolapse, c) subligamentous prolapse, d) sequester. The samples of surgically removed id were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical study. Presence of granulation tissue, neovascularization and humoral response (confirmed by immunopositive reaction to factor VIII and IgG) was found in decreasing pattern in the following groups: I) sequesters, 2) simple prolapses, and 3) subligamentous prolapses. Among protrusions there were only two cases positive for IgG. A negative reaction to C3bR was seen in all the groups of id. The obtained results suggest that immune reaction against lumbar id is rather an effect than a cause of its herniation.