Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yin Zhuang, Sheng Song, Dan Xiao, Xueguang Liu, Xiaofei Han, Shihao Du, Yuan Li, Yanming He, Shujun Zhang
Summary: The pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration is still unclear. In this study, it was found that exosomes secreted by degenerative intervertebral disc-derived nucleus pulposus stem cells could exacerbate annulus fibrosus cell degeneration. This effect was mediated by the let-7b-5p miRNA, which inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and matrix synthesis, and promoted apoptosis. The activation of the IGF1R expression and PI3K-Akt pathway were also inhibited by let-7b-5p.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jackie D. Zehr, Fasih Ahmad Rahman, Jack P. Callaghan, Joe Quadrilatero
Summary: In this study, immunofluorescence analysis was used to characterize the histochemical and structural damage in collagenous spine tissues. The results showed that compression loading led to significant decreases in fluorescence area and intensity of COL II in the annulus fibrosus, while both COL I and COL II fluorescence area decreased in the endplate. These findings suggest that immunofluorescence analysis can effectively capture the histochemical and structural damage in collagenous spine tissues.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chunxu Li, Qiushi Bai, Yuxiao Lai, Jingjing Tian, Jiahao Li, Xiaodan Sun, Yu Zhao
Summary: Low-back and neck-shoulder pains caused by intervertebral disk degeneration are common issues among middle-aged and elderly people globally. Surgical intervention is the main therapy method, but traditional approaches have drawbacks. Therefore, there is an urgent need for biomaterials to endogenously regenerate intervertebral disks and restore biomechanical function.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weidong Zhang, Huan Wang, Zhangqin Yuan, Genglei Chu, Heng Sun, Zilin Yu, Huan Liang, Tao Liu, Feng Zhou, Bin Li
Summary: The study showed that different levels of cyclic tensile strain have varying effects on annulus fibrosus cells, with moderate mechanical stimulation reducing inflammatory responses and exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Xinjie Wu, Wei Sun
Summary: This article provides an overview of the role of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (SC-EVs) in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). SC-EVs have the potential to treat and diagnose IVDD through mechanisms such as inducing regenerative phenotypes, alleviating cell apoptosis, and modulating the immune response. The efficiency of SC-EVs can be enhanced by optimizing their preparation conditions and functionality.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaofei Feng, Yongchao Li, Qihang Su, Jun Tan
Summary: This study investigated whether degenerative NP cell-derived exosomes promote apoptosis of CEP cells and aggravate intervertebral disc degeneration. The results demonstrated that degenerated NPC exosomes induce CEPC apoptosis, inhibit extracellular matrix synthesis, and promote degradation, leading to aggravated disc degeneration.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rami W. Eldaya, Matthew S. Parsons, Lee Rhea, Aseem Sharma
Summary: A custom algorithm was used to process T2-weighted MR images, significantly increasing the signal intensity of structures with inherent signal intensity in normal lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs), making the annulus fibrosus (IAF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) visible in the images. However, visualization of the NP was affected by disc degeneration.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Dalin Wang, Alon Lai, Jennifer Gansau, Philip Nasser, Yunsoo Lee, Damien M. Laudier, James C. Iatridis
Summary: This study established an ex-vivo rat lumbar endplate injury model and characterized the effects of endplate injury on motion segment biomechanical properties. Compared to annulus fibrosus injury, endplate injury had the greatest impact on axial biomechanical properties, while annulus fibrosus injury primarily affected torsional properties.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qifan Yu, Feng Han, Zhangqin Yuan, Zhuang Zhu, Changjiang Liu, Zhengdong Tu, Qianping Guo, Runze Zhao, Weidong Zhang, Huan Wang, Haijiao Mao, Bin Li, Caihong Zhu
Summary: In this study, researchers developed a nanofibrous scaffold loaded with fucoidan, a natural marine polysaccharide with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative functions, to alleviate the adverse microenvironment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The results showed that the fucoidan-loaded scaffold significantly decreased the expression of genes and proteins related to inflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, it reduced the degradation of extracellular matrix and promoted disc repair, indicating promising potential for IDD treatment.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
John G. McMorran, Diane E. Gregory
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between endplate fracture velocity and damage to the annulus fibrosus. The results showed that different compression rates significantly affected the compressive strength and stiffness of motion segments, but no differences were observed in the mechanical properties of the annulus fibrosus, suggesting that endplate fracture precedes destruction of the annulus fibrosus at slow loading rates.
MEDICAL ENGINEERING & PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
B. Ashinsky, H. E. Smith, R. L. Mauck, S. E. Gullbrand
Summary: Back and neck pain are leading causes of disability and healthcare spending globally, with intervertebral disc degeneration being a common source of pain. Regenerative therapies targeting disc components must also consider degenerative changes in adjacent spinal structures to be successful. A holistic approach to treating pain and degeneration in motion segments is necessary for effective regenerative strategies.
EUROPEAN CELLS & MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sertac Kirnaz, Sunidhi Singh, Charisse Capadona, Marianne Lintz, Jacob L. Goldberg, Lynn B. McGrath, Branden Medary, Fabian Sommer, Lawrence J. Bonassar, Roger Hartl
Summary: Low back pain is often associated with degenerative disc disease, and biological treatment approaches like cell injections have shown promising results. However, challenges such as managing disc cells and the microenvironment of intervertebral discs need to be overcome for long-term safety and efficacy.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Miriam Bobadilla Munoz, Josune Orbe, Gloria Abizanda, Florencio J. D. Machado, Amaia Vilas, Asier Ullate-Agote, Leire Extramiana, Arantxa Baraibar Churio, Xabier L. Aranguren, Gloria Cantero, Neira Sainz Amillo, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Luis Ramos Garcia, Juan Pablo Romero Riojas, Ainara Vallejo-Illarramendi, Carmen Paradas, Adolfo Lopez de Munain, Jose Antonio Paramo, Felipe Prosper, Ana Perez-Ruiz
Summary: Aged muscles have a decline in their response to damage, which is mainly attributed to intrinsic defects in satellite cells. However, changes in the muscle-stem cell microenvironment also contribute to aging. Loss of MMP-10 in young mice alters the muscle ECM and disrupts the satellite cell niche, leading to premature aging features. MMP-10 has a protective effect on satellite cells and can delay their aging and overcome dysfunction in muscular dystrophy.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Hai-Wei Chen, Jian-Wei Zhou, Guang-Zhi Zhang, Zhang-Bin Luo, Lei Li, Xue-Wen Kang
Summary: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is an important cause of chronic low back pain (LBP) and serves as the pathological basis for various spinal degenerative diseases. Factors such as autophagy, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, ECM homeostasis, cellular senescence, and apoptosis are involved in reducing ECM synthesis by intervertebral disc (IVD) cells and accelerating IDD progression. The mTOR signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the regulation of autophagy, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, ECM homeostasis, cellular senescence, and apoptosis in IVD cells.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Raquel M. Goncalves, Taryn Saggese, Zhiyao Yong, Joana R. Ferreira, Anita Ignatius, Hans-Joachim Wilke, Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke, Graciosa Q. Teixeira
Summary: This study investigated the impact of the MSC secretome on human annulus fibrosus cells exposed to mechanical loading and a pro-inflammatory environment. The results showed that the inflammatory milieu had a stronger impact on the cells than physiological mechanical stress. The MSC secretome decreased the production of certain proteases in the cells and increased the production of TIMP-1.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elena Cambria, Silvio Brunner, Sally Heusser, Philipp Fisch, Wolfgang Hitzl, Stephen J. Ferguson, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nathan Piazza, Mehdi Dehghani, Thomas R. Gaborski, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yee Kit Tai, Charmaine Ng, Kristy Purnamawati, Jasmine Lye Yee Yap, Jocelyn Naixin Yin, Craig Wong, Bharati Kadamb Patel, Poh Loong Soong, Pawel Pelczar, Juerg Frohlich, Christian Beyer, Charlene Hui Hua Fong, Sharanya Ramanan, Marco Casarosa, Carmine Pasquale Cerrato, Zi Ling Foo, Rina Malathi Pannir Selvan, Elina Grishina, Ufuk Degirmenci, Shi Jie Toh, Pete J. Richards, Ali Mirsaidi, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Suet Yen Chong, Stephen J. Ferguson, Adriano Aguzzi, Monica Monici, Lei Sun, Chester L. Drum, Jiong-Wei Wang, Alfredo Franco-Obregon
Article
Cell Biology
Elena Cambria, Matthias J. E. Arlt, Sandra Wandel, Olga Krupkova, Wolfgang Hitzl, Fabian S. Passini, Oliver N. Hausmann, Jess G. Snedeker, Stephen J. Ferguson, Karin Wuertz-Kozak
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)
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)
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.
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.
