Christoph Weiler

TL;DR: It is provided clear evidence that TNF‐α is expressed in discs of increasing age, which correlates with histomorphological signs of disc degeneration and seems to be activated and biologically active through its receptors in human lumbar disc tissue.

TL;DR: It is indicated that cells with a (immunohistochemically) notochord-like phenotype are present in a considerable fraction of adult lumbar intervertebral discs of all ages and variable degree of disc degeneration.

TL;DR: This is the first study describing the abundant presence of CD68-positive cells in human nonherniated disc nucleus pulposus and it is assumed that these cells are involved in the phagocytosis of extracellular matrix, and that discal cells therefore promote disc degradation, ultimately leading to a loss of biomechanical properties.

TL;DR: This study demonstrated that histological disc alterations in surgical specimens can be graded in a reliable manner based on a quantitative histologic degeneration score (HDS), and increased BMI was identified as a positive risk factor for the development of symptomatic, clinically significant disc degeneration.

TL;DR: The intra-individual correlation of degenerative changes in all three examined spine regions further supports the notion that individual, i.e. genetic factors are strong predisposing factor for the development of age-related disc alterations.