Expression and significance of telomerase in the nucleus pulposus tissues of degenerative lumbar discs.

The pathogenesis of lumbar disc degeneration is extremely complex, and the expression and role of telomerase in degenerative lumbar disc tissues remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to detect telomerase expression in nucleus pulposus tissues of degenerative lumbar discs and to explore the correlation between telomerase expression and other factors typical of disc degeneration. A total of 8 patients with degenerative nucleus pulposus were included as the experimental group and compared with 8 control patients without evident lumbar disc degeneration.