# Deciphering Macrophage Phenotype and Function in Disc Herniation and associated Back/leg Pain

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2022 · $480,903

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Intervertebral disc herniation is a major cause of back/leg pain, which affects 80% of people with an estimated
annual cost of $100 billion in the U.S. alone. Treatment options for disc herniation and its associated pain are
very limited, largely due to insufficient understanding of pathological processes. Current research indicates that
inflammation is a key contributor to back/leg pain after disc herniation in both acute and chronic phases. Others
and we have found that macrophages are the predominant infiltrated cells at disc hernia sites. Macrophages
may play distinct roles in various phases of disc herniation with tissue- and disease stage-specific phenotypes
due to their remarkable plasticity and sensitivity in response to microenvironment cues. Our preliminary data
revealed a mixed population of macrophages infiltrated at disc hernia sites and transiently depletion of
macrophages reduced local inflammation. However, our knowledge of dynamic phenotypes and functions of
infiltrated macrophages in disc herniation remains scarce. Our central hypothesis is that specific
subpopulations of macrophages contribute to the progression of disc herniation at different stages and that
modulation of macrophages will alleviate inflammation-induced pain and restore disc homeostasis. Our
objective of this R01 is to better characterizing macrophage phenotypes, functions, and macrophage-disc
crosstalk in disc herniation and pain at a mechanistic level, which facilitates our long-term goal to develop
disease-modifying therapies for disc herniation and associated back/leg pain. Successful completion of this
project will significantly advance our understanding of macrophage functions in disc herniation and lay a solid
foundation for future therapeutic development, such as a selectively macrophage-targeted immunomodulation
strategy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10364328
- **Project number:** 1R01AR078888-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** XUDONG J. LI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $480,903
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10364328

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10364328, Deciphering Macrophage Phenotype and Function in Disc Herniation and associated Back/leg Pain (1R01AR078888-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10364328. Licensed CC0.

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