New Insights Link Low-Virulent Disc Infections to the Etiology of Severe Disc Degeneration and Modic Changes

Within the last 5 years, international research collaborations including those of several research groups skilled in microbiology, immunology and pathophysiology, have identified a low-virulent intradiscal infection with the ability to provoke gradual and progressive disc degeneration, end-plate disruption, Modic changes and persistent clinical lower-back pain. Certain strains of the <i>Propionibacterium acne</i> bacterium seem able to invade, colonize and develop a protective biofilm inside the disc. The interaction of <i>P. acne</i>, disc tissues and mononuclear cells of the bone marrow are shown to trigger a relevant immunological response and an ensuing destructive inflammation of the disc and adjacent vertebrae. This process presents on MRI as Modic changes. Recent proof-of-concept data provide compelling evidence for this bacterial disc infection hypothesis.