It has been shown that both IFN-γ and IL-4 are elevated in degenerative intervertebral discs, and IFN-γ affects IDD by inducing the release of inflammatory cytokines and increasing ICAM-1 expression (Gabr et al., 2011; Risbud and Shapiro, 2014). This evidence concerns the gene ICAM1 and intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.