Browsing by Subject "Intervertebral disc"
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- PublicationOpen AccessAnimal models for disc degeneration-an update(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2018) Jin, Li; Balian, Gary; Li, Xudong JoshuaIntervertebral disc degeneration is considered a major cause of back pain that places a heavy burden on society, both because of its effect on the physiology of individuals and its consequences on the world economy. During the past few decades, research findings in the pre-clinical setting have led to a significant increase in the understanding of intervertebral disc degeneration, although many aspects of the disease remain unclear. The goal of this review is to summarize existing animal models for disc degeneration studies and the difficulties that are associated with the use of such models. A firm understanding of the cellular and molecular events that ensue as a result of injuries, as well as environmental factors, could be instrumental in the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration
- PublicationOpen AccessDegenerative physiochemical events in the pathological intervertebral disc(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2022) Lama, Polly; Tewari, Jerina; Adams, Michael A; Le Maitre, Christine. Low back pain is one of the commonest musculoskeletal complaints that affects individuals of all ages and is a leading contributor towards work loss worldwide. The range of current treatment modalities involving surgeries, injectable agents, and medications is promising but cannot address the reasons behind the occurrence of pain in patients with degenerative disc pathologies. One possible factor for the limited success is the lack of evidence behind the identification of early, intermediate, and late stages of painful changes methodologically in a vast group of populations and the manifestation of the diseases in terms of increased physical activity, hereditary patterns, and various risk factors. However, despite these challenges, steady progress has been achieved in understanding the parameters in abnormally loaded progressively degenerating discs and these features have been elucidated at a physical, biochemical, and cellular level. These recent findings can likely lead to the development of therapeutic interventions that will identify and retard tissue damage, decrease pain, and improve the quality of life in these patients. Therefore, the main aim of this review is to integrate recent updates in intervertebral disc degeneration research for the development of evidence-based screening protocols and more targeted interventions in the management of low back pain.
- PublicationOpen AccessIntervertebral disc biology, degeneration and novel tissue engineering and regenerative medicine therapies(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2007) Richardson, S.; Mobasheri, A.; Freemont, A.J.; Hoyland, J.A.Degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is a major cause of low back pain affecting a large percentage of the population at some point in their lives. Consequently IVD degeneration and its associated low back pain has a huge socio-economic impact and places a burden on health services world-wide. Current treatments remove the symptoms without treating the underlying problem and can result in reoccurrence in the same or adjacent discs. Tissue engineering offers hope that new therapies can be developed which can regenerate the IVD. Combined with this, development of novel biomaterials and an increased understanding of mesenchymal stem cell and IVD cell biology mean that tissue engineering of the IVD may soon become a reality. However for any regenerative medicine approach to be successful there must first be an understanding of the biology of the tissue and the pathophysiology of the disease process. This review covers these key areas and gives an overview of the recent developments in the fields of biomaterials, cell biology and tissue engineering of the IVD.
- PublicationOpen AccessRole of heparan sulfate 6-0 endosulfatases in intervertebral disc homeostasis(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2019) Otsuki, Shuhei; Alvarez Garcia, Oscar; Lotz, Martin K.; Neo, MasashiThe expression of heparan sulfate endosulfatases (Sulfs) was investigated in the intervertebral disc (IVD) to clarify their role in IVD homeostasis. Sulf-1 and -2 expression were elucidated in normal and degenerated human IVD. Age-related effects on Sulf expression, type II collagen levels, and structural changes were analyzed in IVDs of wild-type (WT) and Sulf-1 knockout (Sulf-1-/- ) mice. The effect of recombinant Sulf-1 (100 ng/ml) and Sulf-1 knockdown on heparan sulfate proteoglycan and collagen expression in ATDC5 cells were examined. Finally, the effect of Sulf-1 on transforming growth factor (TGF) β1-induced signaling was evaluated. Results show that Sulf-1 and -2 levels were higher in degenerated human IVDs. In WT mice, Sulf-1 and -2 expression generally declined as the animals aged. In particular, Sulf-1 in the nucleus pulposus was higher compared with Sulf-2 at the age of 1 and 6 months and significantly declined with aging. Sulf-1-/- mice showed more severe IVD pathology than WT mice, with lower type II collagen levels in nucleus pulposus, and degeneration with type I collagen in annulus fibrosus. In vitro, Sulf-1 induced type II collagen expression and significantly increased TGF-β1- induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation in ATDC5 cells. In conclusion, Sulf-1 might play a critical role from development to maintenance of IVD homeostasis by regulating collagen expression.
- PublicationOpen AccessTWEAK/Fn14 signaling: a promising target in intervertebral disc degeneration(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2016) Liu, Yu-Ping; Yuan, Chong-Ming; Zhang, Shuai-Gong; Hao, Qing-Hai; Wang, Ming-Ming; Zhang, Zhong; Meng, Qian; Li, Ming; Hao, Yue-Dong