The current results suggest that higher expression of TGF-beta1 by fibroblasts might be related to the development of hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum in lumbar spinal stenosis.

The current results indicate that disc cells, after herniation, undergo apoptotic cell death via autocrine or paracrine FasL mechanisms by the disc cells themselves.

This is the first study to identify the expression of Fas receptor on disc cells in herniated disc tissue. The results show that the disc cells after herniation may undergo Fas-mediated apoptosis and that the degree of expression of Fas receptor differs depending on the type of herniation.