Plasma Proteomic Profiling Identifies a Six-Protein Panel for Grading and Predicting Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

In order to identify and validate specific plasma proteins associated with varying grades of intervertebral disc degeneration. By establishing a panel of potential biomarkers, this research seeks to enhance diagnostic accuracy and provide insights into the biological processes underlying IDD.A case-control design was employed, involving a cohort of patients diagnosed with different grades of IDD. A comparative analysis of plasma samples from patients with grade II and grade V degeneration was conducted, allowing for the assessment of differential protein expression. A total of 6,345 human plasma proteins targets were evaluated by SomaScan Assay, yielding 208 proteins with statistically significant differential expression between grade II and grade V IDD patients. Further analysis revealed that among these differentially expressed proteins, 107 were significantly upregulated, while 101 were significantly downregulated in grade V patients.