Mechanical stress contributes to ligamentum flavum hypertrophy by inducing local inflammation and myofibroblast transition in the innovative surgical rabbit model

This novel rabbit model is able to replicate the moderate pathological features of human LFH. Mechanical stress is an independent factor leading to LFH, which can promote the TGF-β1 secretion in LF cells and some inflammatory cells, subsequently induce the myofibroblast transition, and finally result in collagen accumulation and LF fibrosis.