Article
Plant Sciences
Hui Xu, Zi-Han Dai, Gao-Lu He, Han-Chen Cai, Xuan-Yang Chen, Yan-Lin Chen, Cong Xu, Sun-Ren Sheng
Summary: This study validates the role of Ory in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and finds that it has an inhibitory effect on the IL-1 beta/NLRP3 inflammasome positive feedback loop.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yuanbin Liu, Jiazhuang Zheng, Yu Chen, Fandong Wang, He Ye, Miao Wang, Zhi Zhang
Summary: The study investigated the protective effect of shikonin on human intervertebral disk degeneration using human primary nucleus pulposus cells. Shikonin effectively inhibited inflammatory response and apoptosis in NP cells, potentially through the NF-kappa B pathway.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga Sokolova, Michael Naumann
Summary: Gastric cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and its development is influenced by genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and Helicobacter pylori infection. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an active role in the progression of gastric cancer, with bacterial dependence being less significant in later stages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Weiwei Yi, Qing Chen, Chuan Liu, Kaiting Li, Bailong Tao, Guihua Tian, Lu Zhou, Xiaohong Li, Jieliang Shen, Bo Liu, Zhenming Hu, Dawu Wang, Dingqun Bai
Summary: LIPUS can inhibit inflammation and catabolism in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells through the NF-kappa B pathway.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AND RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Gongbiao Lu, Cunxin Zhang, Kang Li, Kai Gao, Maoqing Fu, Chaoliang Lyu, Zhengxue Quan
Summary: This study found that sinomenine (SN) can prevent IL-1 beta-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and improve intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) by activating the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting the NF-kappa B signaling pathway.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ye Zhang, Weiwei Yi, Huiqiang Xia, Haiyang Lan, Jie Chen, Zhijie Yang, Fei Han, Pan Tang, Bo Liu
Summary: A20 plays a critical role in inhibiting inflammation and ameliorating intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) through autophagy mediated by the NF-kappa B pathway in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). Overexpression of A20 promotes autophagy and alleviates IDD, while deletion of A20 leads to decreased autophagy levels and severe degeneration.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xueliang Cui, Yanan Li, Junping Bao, Kun Wang, Xiaotao Wu
Summary: This study provides evidence from in vitro and in vivo research on the role of miR-760 in the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The expression of miR-760 was significantly decreased in degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and negatively correlated with disc degeneration grade. Functional assays showed that miR-760 delivery increased NP cell proliferation and promoted the expression of collagen II and aggrecan. MyD88 was identified as a target gene of miR-760. In vivo experiments in an IDD mouse model demonstrated that upregulation of miR-760 effectively prevented IDD development. Therefore, miR-760 may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of IDD.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gaofeng Zhang, Hai Wang, Qianxi Zhang, Zhengyu Zhao, Wenyang Zhu, Xiaohua Zuo
Summary: Our study demonstrated that bergenin alleviated H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in HNPCs by reducing ROS production, increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, and modulating PPAR-gamma and NF-kappa B pathways.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Kai Tang, Wanhan Su, Chunhui Huang, Yiqi Wu, Xiuming Wu, Haichuan Lu
Summary: Notoginsenoside R1 (NR1) can suppress the development of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), restore disc function, and improve mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Additionally, NR1 promotes extracellular matrix release, reduces proinflammatory cytokine expression, and enhances nucleus pulposus cell function. NR1 may protect against IVDD by inactivating the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Orthopedics
Cun Zhang, Tong Tong, De-chao Miao, Lin-feng Wang
Summary: Vitamin D can attenuate TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis of human nucleus pulposus cells through interfering with the NF-kappa B pathway, as observed in gene expression data analysis.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AND RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Catalina Pineda Molina, George S. Hussey, Alvin Liu, Jonas Eriksson, William A. D'Angelo, Stephen F. Badylak
Summary: The study suggests that surgical meshes composed of naturally occurring materials, such as 4HB, can increase resistance to surgical site infections by activating molecular pathways promoting antimicrobial peptide expression. The findings provide insights into the mechanisms behind the decreased incidence of infections associated with the use of these meshes.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiao Yang, Baixing Li, Haijun Tian, Xiaofei Cheng, Tangjun Zhou, Jie Zhao
Summary: Curcumenol, a plant-derived medicine, has been used to treat low back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). This study examined the effects of curcumenol on inflammation and deterioration associated with IVDD in cell culture and animal models. The results suggest that curcumenol can alleviate the inflammatory responses and damage caused by IVDD.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Toxicology
Jingyang Chen, Meiru Bian, Lingxiao Pan, Hanshi Yang
Summary: The study demonstrated that alpha-mangostin improved cell viability, inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reduced apoptotic cell death, and exerted protective effects through regulating NF-kappa B signaling in LPS-induced NPCs.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Xiangxin Li
Summary: The study found that targeted inhibition of miR-199a-5p in degenerative nucleus pulposus cells (DNPCs) can repress the NF-kappa B pathway by promoting CDKN1B transcription, thereby promoting cell proliferation and reducing apoptosis.
Article
Environmental Sciences
John D. Hansen, Keith A. Loftin, Zachary Laughrey, Ondrej Adamovsky
Summary: Various stressors can have profound impacts on immunity to pathogens, with little research into the effects of cyanobacterial toxins on disease resistance in mammals. Recent studies suggest that freshwater cyanotoxins may alter disease susceptibility parameters for fish, wildlife, and human health through interaction with specific components of innate immunity. However, the results of this study indicate that the tested toxins did not directly interact with key pathogen recognition receptors for innate immunity in humans.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Olga Krupkova, Helen Greutert, Norbert Boos, Johannes Lemcke, Thomas Liebscher, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Baumgartner, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Christine L. Le Maitre, Francis Wignall, Stephen M. Richardson, Judith Hoyland, Carlos Ruiz Wills, Miguel A. Gonzalez Ballester, Michael Neidlin, Leonidas G. Alexopoulos, Jerome Noailly
Summary: Degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc are a major risk factor for low back pain, with accelerated progression in some individuals as they age. Understanding the disease requires identifying key regulatory processes at various levels, from cells to organs. Experimental research and computational modeling have contributed significantly to our understanding of cell signaling pathways and complex interactions within the intervertebral disc.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Sebastian Wangler, Amir Kamali, Christina Wapp, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Sonja Haeckel, Claudia Fortes, Lorin M. Benneker, Lisbet Haglund, R. Geoff Richards, Mauro Alini, Marianna Peroglio, Sibylle Grad
Summary: MSC’s secretome composition was analyzed after exposure to different IVD environments, showing more complex secretome induced by IVD conditioned media compared to IL-1 beta stimulation. The secretome reflected different activity based on IVD pathological status, with implications for tailored secretome therapy development.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Letter
Surgery
Andreas G. Nerlich, Stephanie Panzer, Simon Donell, Raffaella Bianucci
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tamara Herold, Ralph Kothe, Christoph J. Siepe, Oliver Heese, Wolfgang Hitzl, Andreas Korge, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
Summary: This study analyzed the clinical outcomes of 744 patients undergoing lumbar microsurgical decompression, revealing that patients with higher BMI had poorer postoperative pain relief. Over the follow-up period, patients with a BMI of 30-34.9 and BMI >= 35 experienced significantly less benefit from the surgery.
EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andreas G. Nerlich, Sonja M. Kirchhoff, Stephanie Panzer, Christine Lehn, Beatrice E. Bachmeier, Birgit Bayer, Katja Anslinger, Pascale Roecker, Oliver K. Peschel
Summary: A multidisciplinary study of a well-preserved mummy from Napoleonic times revealed evidence of long-standing but terminally inactive pulmonary tuberculosis and other diseases. Despite the presence of tuberculosis infection, it was not the cause of death for the mummy with excellent living conditions correlating well with his diet.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yangyang He, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Linn K. Kuehl, Pia-Maria Wippert
Summary: Osteoporosis is linked to psychosocial stress through various pathways, including oxidative cellular stress. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) may act as relevant biomarkers or mediate this relationship, playing critical roles in disease progression and clinical applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jean Schoeller, Fabian Itel, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Sandra Gaiser, Nicolas Luisier, Dirk Hegemann, Stephen J. Ferguson, Giuseppino Fortunato, Rene M. Rossi
Summary: Surface functionalization of electrospun nanofibers allows for the introduction of additional functionalities while retaining high porosity and surface-to-volume ratio. In this study, chitosan and alginate were sequentially deposited on PLGA nanofibers to form a polyelectrolyte complex for controlled release of ibuprofen. Chitosan with a positive surface charge regulated the interactions between the drug and the coating, resulting in slower release at acidic pH compared to neutral pH.
Article
Cell Biology
Markus Rimann, Astrid Juengel, Sara Mousavi, Nicole Moeschlin, Maurizio Calcagni, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Florian Brunner, Stefan Dudli, Oliver Distler, Christian Adlhart
Summary: This study demonstrated the suitability of two synthetic polymers in creating electrospun scaffolds for 3D skin cell models, with P(AN-MA) mats showing enhanced cell compatibility and infiltration compared to Pul/PVA/PAA mats.
Review
Cell Biology
Emily Lazarus, Paola Bermudez-Lekerika, Daniel Farchione, Taylor Schofield, Sloan Howard, Iskender Mambetkadyrov, Mikkael Lamoca, Iris V. Rivero, Benjamin Gantenbein, Christopher L. Lewis, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
Summary: Sulfated hydrogels play a crucial role in maintaining the phenotype of chondrocytes and chondrocyte-like cells, as well as in the sustained delivery of growth factors. Current research focuses on identifying and summarizing the knowledge about different sulfated hydrogels, highlighting their benefits in cartilage and disc research, and reviewing the biofabrication processes to ensure quality assurance.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Andrea De Pieri, Keegan Ocorr, Kyle Jerreld, Mikkael Lamoca, Wolfgang Hitzl, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
Summary: This study successfully encapsulated resveratrol into poly(epsilon-caprolactone) microparticles to prolong and protect its release and activity. These microparticles showed no cytotoxicity and stimulated collagen deposition, while reducing inflammation and proteolysis.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Katrin Stosch-Wiechert, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Wolfgang Hitzl, Ulrike Szeimies, Axel Staebler, Christoph J. Siepe
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of anterior stand-alone fusion (ASAF) at the lumbosacral junction. The results showed a high satisfaction rate and significant improvements in VAS and ODI scores after a mid- to long-term follow-up of 5 years. However, the incidence of adjacent level degeneration was higher than expected, and patients with preexisting degeneration were at a higher risk of requiring reoperation. Adequate intraoperative segmental lordosis reconstruction was identified as a key protective factor for preserving the adjacent segment.
Letter
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Raffaella Bianucci, Luca Sineo, Roberto Micciche, Grazia Mattutino, Andreas G. Nerlich, Simon T. Donell, Francesco M. Galassi
Letter
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Raffaella Bianucci, Luca Sineo, Roberto Micciche, Grazia Mattutino, Andreas G. Nerlich, Simon T. Donell, Francesco M. Galassi
Article
Orthopedics
Elena Cambria, Sally Heusser, Ariane C. Scheuren, Wai Kit Tam, Agnieszka A. Karol, Wolfgang Hitzl, Victor Y. Leung, Ralph Muller, Stephen J. Ferguson, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
Summary: This study found that the mechanosensitive TRPV4 channel regulates the COX2/PGE2 pathway and mediates cell damage induced by hyperphysiological dynamic compression, possibly via the ERK pathway. Targeted TRPV4 inhibition or knockdown may constitute promising therapeutic approaches for treating IVD pathologies caused by aberrant mechanical stress.