The elastic fibre network of the human lumbar anulus fibrosus: architecture, mechanical function and potential role in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration

Abstract In light of the correlation between chronic back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration, this literature review seeks to illustrate the importance of the hydraulic response across the nucleus pulposus- annulus fibrosus interface, by synthesizing current information regarding injurious biomechanics of the spine, stemming from axial compression. Damage to vertebrae, endplates, the nucleus pulposus, and the annulus fibrosus, can all arise from axial compression, depending on the segment's posture, the manner in which it is loaded, and the physiological state of tissue. Therefore, this movement pattern was selected to illustrate the importance of the bracing effect of a pressurized nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus, and how injuries interrupting support to the annulus fibrosus may contribute to intervertebral disc degeneration.

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Potential Role of lncRNAs in Contributing to Pathogenesis of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Based on Microarray Data

Medical Science Monitor ◽

10.12659/msm.894638 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

pp. 3449-3458 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Yu Chen ◽

Haijian Ni ◽

Yingchuan Zhao ◽

Kai Chen ◽

Ming Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Microarray Data ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Potential Role

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The Potential Role of Extensor Muscle Fatigue in the Onset of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Novel In Vivo Model

The Spine Journal ◽

10.1016/j.spinee.2010.07.202 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. S74-S75

Author(s):

Mary Beth M. Grabowsky ◽

Nicholas A. Pallotta ◽

Matthew W. Connelly ◽

Brett Van Etten ◽

Rebecca A. MacDonald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Muscle Fatigue ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Potential Role ◽

Extensor Muscle ◽

In Vivo Model

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The potential role and trend of HIF‑1α in intervertebral disc degeneration: Friend or foe? (Review)

Molecular Medicine Reports ◽

10.3892/mmr.2021.11878 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Yongjin Li ◽

Shen Liu ◽

Dayu Pan ◽

Baoshan Xu ◽

Xuewu Xing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Potential Role

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Changes in mRNA and Protein Levels of Proteoglycans of the Anulus Fibrosus and Nucleus Pulposus During Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Spine ◽

10.1097/00007632-200210150-00006 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 27 (20) ◽

pp. 2212-2219 ◽

Cited By ~ 140

Author(s):

Gabriella Cs-Szabo ◽

Deborah Ragasa-San Juan ◽

Vani Turumella ◽

Koichi Masuda ◽

Eugene J-M.A. Thonar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Anulus Fibrosus ◽

Protein Levels

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Combined nucleus pulposus augmentation and annulus fibrosus repair prevents acute intervertebral disc degeneration after discectomy

Science Translational Medicine ◽

10.1126/scitranslmed.aay2380 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (534) ◽

pp. eaay2380 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stephen R. Sloan ◽

Christoph Wipplinger ◽

Sertaç Kirnaz ◽

Rodrigo Navarro-Ramirez ◽

Franziska Schmidt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Annulus Fibrosus ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Early Stage ◽

Mechanical Function ◽

Therapy Targets ◽

Hyaluronic Acid Injection ◽

Combined Strategy

Tissue-engineered approaches for the treatment of early-stage intervertebral disc degeneration have shown promise in preclinical studies. However, none of these therapies has been approved for clinical use, in part because each therapy targets only one aspect of the intervertebral disc’s composite structure. At present, there is no reliable method to prevent intervertebral disc degeneration after herniation and subsequent discectomy. Here, we demonstrate the prevention of degeneration and maintenance of mechanical function in the ovine lumbar spine after discectomy by combining strategies for nucleus pulposus augmentation using hyaluronic acid injection and repair of the annulus fibrosus using a photocrosslinked collagen patch. This combined approach healed annulus fibrosus defects, restored nucleus pulposus hydration, and maintained native torsional and compressive stiffness up to 6 weeks after injury. These data demonstrate the necessity of a combined strategy for arresting intervertebral disc degeneration and support further translation of combinatorial interventions to treat herniations in the human spine.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Novel function of TWEAK in inducing intervertebral disc degeneration.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1095070.550070 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Helen Gruber

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

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INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DEGENERATION LINKED TO STRUCTURAL GENE VARIATIONS

Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry ◽

10.36283/pjmd8-4/012 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Saeeda Baig

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

English Language ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Lumbar Disc ◽

Disease Process ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Structural Protein ◽

Lumbar Disc Degeneration

During the recent past focus has shifted from identifying intervertebral disc degeneration as being caused by physical exposure and strain to being linked with a variety of genetic variations. The objective of this review is to provide an up to date review of the existing research data regarding the relation of intervertebral disc degeneration to structural protein genes and their polymorphisms and thus help clearly establish further avenues where research into causation and treatment is needed. A comprehensive search using the keywords “Collagen”, “COL”, “Aggrecan”, “AGC”, “IVDD”, “intervertebral disc degeneration”, and “lumbar disc degeneration” from PubMed and Google Scholar, where literature in the English language was selected spanning from 1991 to 2019. There are many genes involved in the production of structural components of an intervertebral disc. The issues in production of these components involve the over-expression or under-expression of their genes, and single nucleotide polymorphisms and variable number of tandem repeats affecting their structures. These structural genes include primarily the collagen and the aggrecan genes. While genetic and environmental factors all come into play with a disease process like disc degeneration, the bulk of research now shows the significantly larger impact of hereditary over exposure. While further research is needed into some of the lesser studied genes linked to IVDD and also the racial variations in genetic makeup, the focus in the near future should be on establishment of genetic testing to identify individuals at greater risk of disease and deliberation regarding the use of gene therapy to prevent disc degeneration.

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