Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhiwei Liao, Shuai Li, Saideng Lu, Hui Liu, Gaocai Li, Liang Ma, Rongjin Luo, Wencan Ke, Bingjin Wang, Qian Xiang, Yu Song, Xiaobo Feng, Yukun Zhang, Xinghuo Wu, Wenbin Hua, Cao Yang
Summary: The study demonstrates that metformin enhances the release of EVs and changes their protein profile, improving the quality and quantity of MSCs-derived EVs through an autophagy-related pathway. EVs derived from metformin-treated MSCs ameliorate the senescence of intervertebral disc cells, indicating great potential for intervertebral disc regeneration.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yuanliang Xia, Ruohan Yang, Yulin Hou, Hengyi Wang, Yuehong Li, Jianshu Zhu, Changfeng Fu
Summary: Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major cause of lower back pain, and current treatments have limitations. Cell therapy using extracellular vesicles shows potential for treating this condition.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Y. Hao, G. Zhu, L. Yu, Z. Ren, P. Zhang, J. Zhu, S. Cao
Summary: MSC-EVs can alleviate intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) by transferring miR-217 to nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), which inhibits NPC apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. MiR-217 targets EZH2 and downregulates FOXO3 expression, leading to increased cell autophagy and reduced NPC apoptosis and ECM degradation.
OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Shengxu Zhu, Junlin Wang, Moran Suo, Huagui Huang, Xin Liu, Jinzuo Wang, Zhonghai Li
Summary: Low back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration is a global public health problem that significantly impacts patients' quality of life and imposes a huge economic burden on individuals and society. Current treatments cannot reverse or delay the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration. The emergence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a biologic therapy offers new hope for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Huagui Huang, Xin Liu, Jinzuo Wang, Moran Suo, Jing Zhang, Tianze Sun, Wentao Zhang, Zhonghai Li
Summary: Intervertebral disc degeneration is a complex and not yet fully understood cause of low back pain. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells derived from the fetal umbilical cord have shown promising results in regenerating intervertebral discs. These cells have excellent characteristics and can potentially replace the commonly used sources of mesenchymal stem cells. However, the survival of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells within the disc is crucial for their regenerative capacity, and biomaterial scaffolds have shown potential in aiding their survival.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Veronica Tilotta, Gianluca Vadala, Luca Ambrosio, Fabrizio Russo, Claudia Cicione, Giuseppina Di Giacomo, Rocco Papalia, Vincenzo Denaro
Summary: Low back pain is commonly associated with intervertebral disc degeneration, and mesenchymal stem cells may offer a promising cell-free therapy through extracellular vesicles-mediated regenerative and immunomodulatory effects.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Andrea Vernengo, Helen Bumann, Nadine Kluser, Astrid Soubrier, Amra Secerovic, Jan Gewiess, Jan Ulrich Jansen, Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke, Hans-Joachim Wilke, Sibylle Grad
Summary: Chemonucleolysis is an established method for creating organ culture models of intervertebral disc degeneration. The effects of different enzymes used in chemonucleolysis need to be compared to gain a better understanding of how these models mimic human degeneration. The study induced chemonucleolysis in bovine IVDs and evaluated the cellular, biochemical, and histological properties after 7 days.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhiwei Liao, Wencan Ke, Hui Liu, Bide Tong, Kun Wang, Xiaobo Feng, Wenbin Hua, Bingjin Wang, Yu Song, Rongjin Luo, Huaizhen Liang, Weifeng Zhang, Kangcheng Zhao, Shuai Li, Cao Yang
Summary: This study investigated the therapeutic mechanism of small extracellular vesicles (EVs) and found that vasorin protein enriched in EVs promoted the proliferation and extracellular matrix anabolism of nucleus pulposus cells via the Notch1 signaling pathway. In addition, the study showed that EVs embedded in a thermoresponsive gel achieved better therapeutic effects than one-off EVs delivery.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Takashi Ohnishi, Kentaro Homan, Akira Fukushima, Daisuke Ukeba, Norimasa Iwasaki, Hideki Sudo
Summary: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a prevalent pathological condition associated with back pain worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been recognized as a mainstream research objective and investigated for its potential in regenerating degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs). This study comprehensively reviews the molecules, scaffolds, and environmental factors that facilitate the differentiation of MSCs into IVD cells for regenerative therapies for IDD.
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Wentao Zhang, Tianze Sun, Ying Li, Ming Yang, Yantao Zhao, Jing Liu, Zhonghai Li
Summary: Stem cell therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration is emerging as a potential treatment option, with evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials showing its effectiveness in relieving pain and symptoms, reversing the degenerative cascade, delaying the aging process, and maintaining spinal function. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and effects of stem cells in IDD treatment.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Veronica Tilotta, Gianluca Vadala, Luca Ambrosio, Giuseppina Di Giacomo, Claudia Cicione, Fabrizio Russo, Adas Darinskas, Rocco Papalia, Vincenzo Denaro
Summary: In vitro study investigated the therapeutic effects of Wharton's Jelly MSC (WJ-MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) on human nucleus pulposus cells (hNPCs). The results showed that WJ-MSC-EVs could improve the growth and viability of degenerated hNPCs, attenuate extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and oxidative stress. This provides new opportunities for intervertebral disc regeneration and serves as an alternative strategy to cell therapy.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Yongjin Sun, Wenzhi Zhang, Xu Li
Summary: iMSC-sEVs could delay the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration and rejuvenate senescent nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) by activating the Sirt6 pathway. Moreover, miR-105-5p enriched in iMSC-sEVs plays a crucial role in the therapeutic effect by downregulating PDE4D and leading to Sirt6 activation.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Shaoqian Cui, Lei Zhang
Summary: The study demonstrated that MSC-derived EVs delivering miR-129-5p alleviated IDD by targeting LRG1 and suppressing the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, providing a novel therapeutic approach for IDD.
JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Feng Wang, Kai Guo, Liping Nan, Shuguang Wang, Jiawei Lu, Qiang Wang, Zhaoyu Ba, Yufeng Huang, Desheng Wu
Summary: A kartogenin (KGN)@PLGAGelMA/PRP composite hydrogel was developed as a carrier for adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)-based therapies in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The released KGN promoted the differentiation of ADSCs into a nucleus pulposus (NP)-like phenotype and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of ADSCs by activating the Nrf2/TXNIP/NLRP3 axis. Moreover, the hydrogel combined with ADSCs attenuated the degeneration of rat intervertebral discs and promoted the synthesis of NP-like extracellular matrix. The KGN@PLGA-GelMA/PRP composite hydrogel shows promise for stem cell-based therapies of IDD.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Feng-Juan Lyu
Summary: Research on intervertebral disc degeneration and the response of its internal cells to stem cell implantation is crucial. Intervertebral disc progenitor cells share similarities with MSCs, but exhibit differences in potency and surface marker expression.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Wencan Ke, Bingjin Wang, Wenbin Hua, Yu Song, Saideng Lu, Rongjin Luo, Gaocai Li, Kun Wang, Zhiwei Liao, Qian Xiang, Shuai Li, Xinghuo Wu, Yukun Zhang, Cao Yang
Summary: The study found that compression stress increased the interaction between myosin IIA and actin, while decreasing the interaction between myosin IIB and actin. Remodeling of the actomyosin cytoskeleton was involved in the fibrotic phenotype induced by compression stress, mediated by MRTF-A nuclear translocation and proliferation inhibition in NP cells. Activation of the RhoA/ROCK1 pathway mediated compression stress-induced senescence in human NP cells by regulating the interaction between myosin IIA and IIB with actin.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Bingjin Wang, Wencan Ke, Kun Wang, Gaocai Li, Liang Ma, Saideng Lu, Qian Xiang, Zhiwei Liao, Rongjin Luo, Yu Song, Wenbin Hua, Xinghuo Wu, Yukun Zhang, Xianlin Zeng, Cao Yang
Summary: The study reveals the role of Piezo1 in human NP cells under ECM stiffness, leading to oxidative stress and ER stress, and exacerbating cellular senescence and apoptosis. Inhibition of Piezo1 can alleviate these effects, and silencing Piezo1 may ameliorate IDD and decrease the elasticity modulus of rat NP tissues.
OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Saideng Lu, Yu Song, Rongjin Luo, Shuai Li, Gaocai Li, Kun Wang, Zhiwei Liao, Bingjin Wang, Wencan Ke, Qian Xiang, Chao Chen, Xinghuo Wu, Yukun Zhang, Li Ling, Cao Yang
Summary: This study demonstrates the important roles of ferroptosis and FPN dysfunction in the pathogenesis of IVDD, revealing the regulatory mechanism of MTF1 nuclear translocation and validating the therapeutic potential of hinokitiol in the treatment of IVDD.
OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhiwei Liao, Shuai Li, Saideng Lu, Hui Liu, Gaocai Li, Liang Ma, Rongjin Luo, Wencan Ke, Bingjin Wang, Qian Xiang, Yu Song, Xiaobo Feng, Yukun Zhang, Xinghuo Wu, Wenbin Hua, Cao Yang
Summary: The study demonstrates that metformin enhances the release of EVs and changes their protein profile, improving the quality and quantity of MSCs-derived EVs through an autophagy-related pathway. EVs derived from metformin-treated MSCs ameliorate the senescence of intervertebral disc cells, indicating great potential for intervertebral disc regeneration.
Article
Cell Biology
Zhiwei Liao, Suyun Li, Rong Liu, Xiaobo Feng, Yunsong Shi, Kun Wang, Shuai Li, Yukun Zhang, Xinghuo Wu, Cao Yang
Summary: The study revealed that autophagy protects against LPS-induced human NP cell pyroptosis via a P62/SQSTM1-mediated degradation mechanism, and inhibiting pyroptosis can delay the progression of IDD.
OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Rongjin Luo, Shuai Li, Gaocai Li, Saideng Lu, Weifeng Zhang, Hui Liu, Jie Lei, Liang Ma, Wencan Ke, Zhiwei Liao, Bingjin Wang, Yu Song, Kun Wang, Yukun Zhang, Cao Yang
Summary: This study highlights the crucial role of FAM134B-mediated ER-phagy in apoptosis and senescence induced by AGEs in intervertebral disc cells by modulating intracellular ROS accumulation. Overexpression of FAM134B can alleviate these effects, while knockdown exacerbates them. Targeting FAM134B-mediated ER-phagy could be a promising therapeutic strategy for IDD.
OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gaocai Li, Qianqian Zhu, Bingjin Wang, Rongjin Luo, Xiaohui Xiao, Yi Zhang, Liang Ma, Xiaobo Feng, Jingang Huang, Xuhui Sun, Zhen Wen, Yue Pan, Cao Yang
Summary: The study introduces a new method for rejuvenating senescent bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) using pulsed triboelectric stimulation. This approach reverses the senescence phenotypes of aged BMSCs, enhances their proliferation and pluripotency, and rejuvenates them by enhancing MDM2-dependent p53 degradation through pulsed triboelectric stimulation by P-TENG.
Article
Cell Biology
Shuai Li, Zhiwei Liao, Rongjin Luo, Yu Song, Kun Wang, Xiaobo Feng, Yangliu Ou, Xinghuo Wu, Yukun Zhang, Yong Gao, Huipeng Yin, Cao Yang
Summary: The study illustrated that the increase of AIM2 inflammasome is closely related to the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Knockdown of AIM2 alleviated DNA damage and apoptosis in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells induced by H2O2, and slowed down the progression of IDD. Additionally, autophagy-induced unconventional secretion of AIM2 was identified as a protective mechanism against cellular DNA damage.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wencan Ke, Chao Chen, Bingjin Wang, Wenbin Hua, Saideng Lu, Yu Song, Rongjin Luo, Zhiwei Liao, Gaocai Li, Liang Ma, Yunsong Shi, Kun Wang, Shuai Li, Xinghuo Wu, Yukun Zhang, Cao Yang
Summary: The study compared the biomechanical effects of a second ACDF and laminoplasty for the treatment of symptomatic ASD after primary ACDF. The results showed that while ACDF can achieve better decompression effect, it may also increase the ROM and IDP at adjacent segments after revision surgery.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liang Ma, Gaocai Li, Jie Lei, Yu Song, Xiaobo Feng, Lei Tan, Rongjin Luo, Zhiwei Liao, Yunsong Shi, Weifeng Zhang, Xiangmei Liu, Weibin Sheng, Shuilin Wu, Cao Yang
Summary: Selective nanotopography can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of sEVs from human bone mesenchymal stem cells for osteogenesis. RNA sequencing of sEVs harvested at different time points revealed differential expression of miRNA influenced by nanotopography, which is associated with osteogenesis-related pathways. Alkali- and heat-treated nanotopography stimulates osteogenic differentiation of hBMSC and induces the secretion of proosteogenesis sEVs, which mediate osteogenesis through miRNA. Further research is needed to explore whether nanotopography can regulate other contents of sEVs, such as proteins, for enhancing osteogenesis and other biomedical applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weifeng Zhang, Gaocai Li, Rongjin Luo, Jie Lei, Yu Song, Bingjin Wang, Liang Ma, Zhiwei Liao, Wencan Ke, Hui Liu, Wenbin Hua, Kangcheng Zhao, Xiaobo Feng, Xinghuo Wu, Yukun Zhang, Kun Wang, Cao Yang
Summary: Investigating the mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVD) has revealed a potential treatment for limiting the progression of low back pain. IVD involves widespread inflammation and cell death within the discs, but the exact progression of the condition is unclear. Researchers in China have found that oxidative stress triggers the leakage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into the cellular fluid, which activates an immune response pathway and leads to the release of inflammatory cytokines. The activation of this pathway is directly linked to the severity of IVD, allowing for potential monitoring of the condition. Administering a drug to block mtDNA leakage in rats has been shown to slow the progression of IVD.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Liang Ma, Wencan Ke, Zhiwei Liao, Xiaobo Feng, Jie Lei, Kun Wang, Bingjin Wang, Gaocai Li, Rongjin Luo, Yunsong Shi, Weifeng Zhang, Yu Song, Weibin Sheng, Cao Yang
Summary: Nanotopographical cues can guide bone regeneration through the memory function of small extracellular vesicles (sEV). In this study, sEVs were extracted from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) cultured on nanotopographical titanium plates, and it was found that they had superior pro-osteogenesis ability. RNA sequencing further confirmed the mechanisms of sEVs in bone regeneration. Finally, sEVs were applied to a scaffold to promote bone ingrowth.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Kangcheng Zhao, Ran An, Qian Xiang, Gaocai Li, Kun Wang, Yu Song, Zhiwei Liao, Shuai Li, Wenbin Hua, Xiaobo Feng, Xinghuo Wu, Yukun Zhang, Abhirup Das, Cao Yang
Summary: Extracellular lactate regulates intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels through ASIC1 and ASIC3, activating the NF-kappa B signaling pathway to promote NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1 beta release, ultimately contributing to NP degeneration.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2021)
