A study identified that increases in CX3CL1 and CX3CR1-expressing cells are significantly related to pathomechanism of HNP for the first time. Especially, CD4 (+) T-cells and NK cells expressing CX3CR1 may play an important role in developing C-HNP 1).

1)
Oh IS, Suh DW, Park SR, Ha KY. Fractalkine receptor chemokine (CX3CR1) influences on cervical and lumbar disc herniation. Indian J Orthop. 2015 Mar-Apr;49(2):239-44. doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.152505. PubMed PMID: 26015616; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4436493.