scholarly journals Intervertebral Disc Stem/Progenitor Cells: A Promising “Seed” for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Yuxiang Du ◽  
Zhikun Wang ◽  
Yangming Wu ◽  
Chengyi Liu ◽  
Lingli Zhang

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is considered to be the primary reason for low back pain (LBP), which has become more prevalent from 21 century, causing an enormous economic burden for society. However, in spite of remarkable improvements in the basic research of IVD degeneration (IVDD), the effects of clinical treatments of IVDD are still leaving much to be desired. Accumulating evidence has proposed the existence of endogenous stem/progenitor cells in the IVD that possess the ability of proliferation and differentiation. However, few studies have reported the biological properties and potential application of IVD progenitor cells in detail. Even so, these stem/progenitor cells have been consumed as a promising cell source for the regeneration of damaged IVD. In this review, we will first introduce IVD, describe its physiology and stem/progenitor cell niche, and characterize IVDSPCs between homeostasis and IVD degeneration. We will then summarize recent studies on endogenous IVDSPC-based IVD regeneration and exogenous cell-based therapy for IVDD. Finally, we will discuss the potential applications and future developments of IVDSPC-based repair of IVD degeneration.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binwu Hu ◽  
Ruijun He ◽  
Kaige Ma ◽  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Min Cui ◽  
...  

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is considered to be the primary reason for low back pain. Despite remarkable improvements in both pharmacological and surgical management of IVD degeneration (IVDD), therapeutic effects are still unsatisfactory. It is because of the fact that these therapies are mainly focused on alleviating the symptoms rather than treating the underlying cause or restoring the structure and biomechanical function of the IVD. Accumulating evidence has revealed that the endogenous stem/progenitor cells exist in the IVD, and these cells might be a promising cell source in the regeneration of degenerated IVD. However, the biological characteristics and potential application of IVD-derived stem/progenitor cells (IVDSCs) have yet to be investigated in detail. In this review, the authors aim to perform a review to systematically discuss (1) the isolation, surface markers, classification, and biological characteristics of IVDSCs; (2) the aging- and degeneration-related changes of IVDSCs and the influences of IVD microenvironment on IVDSCs; and (3) the potential for IVDSCs to promote regeneration of degenerated IVD. The authors believe that this review exclusively address the current understanding of IVDSCs and provide a novel approach for the IVD regeneration.


Author(s):  
Aubrey T. Francisco ◽  
Robert J. Mancino ◽  
Claire G. Jeong ◽  
Isaac O. Karikari ◽  
Robby D. Bowles ◽  
...  

Biological and anatomical changes of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration frequently occur in the nucleus pulposus (NP) [1]. Changes in NP matrix composition coincide with the loss of a distinct notochord derived cell population [2],[3], which may have the potential to generate or maintain a functional NP-like matrix. Immature NP cells reside in an environment rich in laminin and express specific laminin-binding receptors [4],[5]. Additionally, NP cells attach in higher numbers to laminins as compared to cells isolated from other regions of the IVD [6]. Our initial work demonstrated that matrix protein and stiffness modulate NP cell-cell interactions upon surfaces [7], with results that suggest soft, laminin-functionalized hydrogels may be useful for promoting an NP-like cell phenotype.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 6257
Author(s):  
Zepur Kazezian ◽  
Kieran Joyce ◽  
Abhay Pandit

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a leading cause of low back pain worldwide, incurring a significant burden on the healthcare system and society. IVD degeneration is characterized by an abnormal cell-mediated response leading to the stimulation of different catabolic biomarkers and activation of signalling pathways. In the last few decades, hyaluronic acid (HA), which has been broadly used in tissue-engineering, has popularised due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and extracellular matrix enhancing properties. Hence, there is expressed interest in treating the IVD using different HA compositions. An ideal HA-based biomaterial needs to be compatible and supportive of the disc microenvironment in general and inhibit inflammation and downstream cascades leading to the innervation, vascularisation and pain sensation in particular. High molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW HA) and HA-based biomaterials used as therapeutic delivery platforms have been trialled in preclinical models and clinical trials. In this paper, we reviewed a series of studies focused on assessing the effect of different compositions of HA as a therapeutic, targeting IVD degeneration. Overall, tremendous advances have been made towards an optimal form of a HA biomaterial to target specific biomarkers associated with IVD degeneration, but further optimization is necessary to address regeneration.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. s-0034-1376610-s-0034-1376610
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
C. Xiong ◽  
C. W. Chan ◽  
D. Sakai ◽  
D. Chan

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Ching Tzaan ◽  
Hsien-Chih Chen

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a multifactorial process that is influenced by contributions from genetic predisposition, the aging phenomenon, lifestyle conditions, biomechanical loading and activities, and other health factors (such as diabetes). Attempts to decelerate disc degeneration using various techniques have been reported. However, to date, there has been no proven technique effective for broad clinical application. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) is a growth factor cytokine that has been shown to enhance the availability of circulating hematopoietic stem cells to the brain and heart as well as their capacity for mobilization of mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells. GCSF also exerts significant increases in circulating neutrophils as well as potent anti-inflammatory effects. In our study, we hypothesize that GCSF can induce bone marrow stem cells differentiation and mobilization to regenerate the degenerated IVD. We found that GCSF had no contribution in disc regeneration or maintenance; however, there were cell proliferation within end plates. The effects of GCSF treatment on end plates might deserve further investigation.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1483
Author(s):  
Margarita Calonge ◽  
Teresa Nieto-Miguel ◽  
Ana de la Mata ◽  
Sara Galindo ◽  
José M. Herreras ◽  
...  

Corneal failure is a highly prevalent cause of blindness. One special cause of corneal failure occurs due to malfunction or destruction of the limbal stem cell niche, upon which the superficial cornea depends for homeostatic maintenance and wound healing. Failure of the limbal niche is referred to as limbal stem cell deficiency. As the corneal epithelial stem cell niche is easily accessible, limbal stem cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine applied to the ocular surface are among the most highly advanced forms of this novel approach to disease therapy. However, the challenges are still great, including the development of cell-based products and understanding how they work in the patient’s eye. Advances are being made at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels to alter disease processes and to reduce or eliminate blindness. Efforts must be coordinated from the most basic research to the most clinically oriented projects so that cell-based therapies can become an integrated part of the therapeutic armamentarium to fight corneal blindness. We undoubtedly are progressing along the right path because cell-based therapy for eye diseases is one of the most successful examples of global regenerative medicine.


BIOCELL ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 893-898
Author(s):  
PETRA KRAUS ◽  
ANKITA SAMANTA ◽  
SINA LUFKIN ◽  
THOMAS LUFKIN

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