Analyses of disc degeneration and herniation have revealed elevated levels of specific chemokines, including monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), CCL3, CCL4, MCP-3, C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10), and IL-8 (25, 26), The secretion of cytokines recruits immune cells, initiates an inflammatory cascade, and further exacerbates disc degeneration (27, 28). The gene discussed is CCL4; the disease is intervertebral disk degenerative disorder.