Standard curves.

<p>A: IL-10, the efficiency was 95.242% and the correlation coefficient was 0.998; B: IL-12, the efficiency was 96.446% and the correlation coefficient was 0.991; C: IL-16, the efficiency was 98.241% and the correlation coefficient was 0.989; D: IL-17, the efficiency was 95.712% and the correlation coefficient was 0.999; E: IL-18, the efficiency was 97.501% and the correlation coefficient was 0.989; and F: IL-27, the efficiency was 97.081% and the correlation coefficient was 0.995.</p

Correlation table demonstrating the pairwise co-expression profile of ILs in the ID herniation and TB group.

<p>0 = not significant.</p><p>(+) = positive correlation, p<0.05.</p><p>(++) = positive correlation, p<0.001.</p><p>(−) = negative correlation, p<0.05.</p><p>(−) = negative correlation, p<0.001.</p

Amplification curves.

<p>A: IL-10, the Ct value was within the range of 24–27; B: IL-12, the Ct value was within the range of 26–28; C: IL-16, the Ct value was within the range of 26–28; D: IL-18, the Ct value was within the range of 20–22; E: IL-17, the Ct value was within the range of 20–22; and F: IL-27, the Ct value was within the range of 21–23.</p

Detected mRNA expression of ILs in the three groups.

<p>ns = not significant.</p

The mRNA expression of the ILs in the three groups.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± SEM (standard error of the mean). Significantly higher mRNA expression in the TB group in contrast to the control group was detected for IL-10, IL-16, IL-17, IL-18, and IL-27. The mRNA expression of IL-10, IL-16, IL-18, and IL-27 was higher in the TB group than in the ID herniation group. a: Significant difference versus the control group (P<0.05). b: Significant difference versus the ID herniation group (P<0.05). c: Significant difference versus the TB group (P<0.05).</p

Normalized transcript levels of interleukins (ILs) in the TB group with respect to pain intensity (A), symptom duration (B), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (C) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (D).

<p><b>A</b> illustrates that patients experiencing intense pain (visual analog scale [VAS] score = 8–10) exhibited higher IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18 mRNA levels than patients experiencing mild pain (VAS score = 0–4). Meanwhile, patients experiencing mild pain exhibited higher IL-10 and IL-27 mRNA levels than patients experiencing intense pain (P<0.05). <b>B</b> reveals that patients who experienced pain for 3–12 months exhibited significantly higher IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18 mRNA levels than those who experienced pain for <3 months. Conversely, patients who experienced pain for <3 months exhibited significantly higher IL-10 and IL-27 mRNA levels than those who experienced pain for 3–12 months (P<0.05). <b>C</b> indicates that the mRNA levels of IL-16 and IL-17 were significantly higher in patients with high CRP levels (>30 mg/L), whereas IL-10 and IL-27 levels were significantly higher in patients with low CRP levels (<10 mg/L) (P<0.005). <b>D</b> illustrates that the mRNA levels of IL-16 and IL-17 were significantly higher in patients with high ESRs (>40 mm/h). Conversely, IL-10 and IL-27 levels were significantly higher in patients with low ESRs (<20 mm/h) (P<0.005).</p

Melting curves.

<p>A: IL-10, the specific melting temperature was 79.96°C; B: IL-12, the specific melting temperature was 84.17°C; C: IL-16, the specific melting temper-ature was 73.73°C; D: IL-17, the specific melting temperature was 79.96°C; E: IL-18, the specific melting temperature was 84.87°C; and F: IL-27, the specific melting temperature was 80.03°C.</p

The mRNA expression of the ILs in the different pathogenetic condition TB groups.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± SEM (standard error of the mean). Patients with more severe disease had significantly higher IL-16, IL-17, and IL-18 mRNA levels and significantly lower IL-10 and IL-27 mRNA levels. Mild group: VAS (0–4), CRP (<10 mg/L), ESR (<20 mm/h). Moderate group: VAS (5–7), CRP (10–30 mg/L), ESR (20–40 mm/h). Severe group: VAS (8–10), CRP (>30 mg/L), ESR (>40 mm/h). a: Significant differences versus the control group (P<0.05).</p

Primer sequences used for quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

<p>Primer sequences used for quantitative real-time RT-PCR.</p