Association of FAS and FAS ligand polymorphisms with the susceptibility and severity of lumbar disc degeneration in Chinese Han population.

CONTEXT: Apoptosis is involved in the mechanism of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). OBJECTIVE: We aim to determine whether the polymorphisms of FAS and FASL are associated with the presence and severity of LDD. METHODS: A total of 348 patients with LDD and 215 healthy controls were genotyped. RESULTS: Patients with LDD showed higher frequency of-1377GA and AA, as well as-844CT and TT genotypes than normal controls. These genotypes were found to be associated with the risk of higher grades of LDD. CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms of FAS and FASL may be associated with the presence and severity of LDD.