Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology

ZNF865 (BLST) Regulates Back Pain via Cell Senescence and DNA Damage Mechanisms

This study identifies ZNF865 as a regulator of cell senescence and DNA damage in intervertebral discs, showing its role in back pain and potential as a therapeutic target.

A Porcine Model of Intervertebral Disc Injury Recapitulates Human Discogenic Pain via Notochordal Cell Loss and Pain-inducing Nucleus Pulposus Cell Emergence

This study develops a porcine model of intervertebral disc injury that mimics human discogenic pain through notochordal cell loss and nucleus pulposus cell emergence, validated by MRI, biobehavioral testing, and single-cell transcriptomics.

Effects of lumbar disc injury and nociception on trunk motor control during rat locomotion

This study examines how lumbar disc injury and muscle-derived nociception affect trunk motor control in rats during locomotion, finding localized neuromuscular adaptations without disrupting global movement patterns.

Beyond miRNA cargo profiles: anti-inflammatory roles of extracellular vesicle-enriched miRNAs derived from human intervertebral disc cells unveiled by functional testing

The paper identifies anti-inflammatory miRNAs in extracellular vesicles from human intervertebral disc cells and shows their synergistic effects in reducing inflammation and promoting regeneration.

Synchrotron Tomography-Based Inversion Pipeline for Estimating Elastic Properties of Rat Vertebral Endplate Finite Element Models

This paper develops an inversion pipeline using synchrotron tomography and digital volume correlation to estimate elastic properties of rat vertebral endplates, showing high spatial agreement between FEM predictions and experimental data.

TRPC6-Mediated Ca2+ Influx Activates MAPK and NF κB Signaling and Elicits Pro-Inflammatory and Catabolic Responses in Human Intervertebral Disc Cells

This study shows TRPC6 activation in human intervertebral disc cells causes calcium influx and activates MAPK and NF-κB pathways, leading to inflammation and catabolic responses.

Spatiotemporal cellular dynamics of the notochord shape intervertebral disc morphogenesis in the mouse embryo through apoptosis and proliferation

The paper investigates the cellular processes driving notochord transformation into the nucleus pulposus in mouse embryos, identifying proliferation, apoptosis, and vacuolation as key factors.

Transcriptomic and functional comparison of cells isolated from healthy and degenerated ovine intervertebral discs

This paper compares transcriptomic and functional differences between healthy and degenerated ovine intervertebral disc cells, finding age-related inflammatory and senescence signatures and shared transcriptional modules with human degenerated discs.

The progression of neurovascular features and chemokine signatures of the intervertebral disc with degeneration

This study tracks the temporal changes in chemokine production and neurovascular invasion in mouse intervertebral discs during degeneration following injury.

High-resolution 3-dimensional micro-CT imaging of the nucleus pulposus using a novel contrast agent

This study uses potassium iodide as a contrast agent to enhance micro-CT imaging of the nucleus pulposus in mice and rats, enabling accurate 3D visualization and quantification of disc degeneration.

SDC4 drives fibrotic remodeling of the intervertebral disc under altered spinal loading

This study shows that SDC4 deletion protects against disc degeneration in mice under increased spinal flexion by preserving notochordal features and modulating proteomic pathways.

The transcriptome and secreted factors of the intervertebral discs in STZ HFD Type2 diabetic male mice reveal extensive inflammation

This study examines the transcriptome and secreted factors in intervertebral discs of STZ-HFD T2D mice, revealing increased inflammation and degeneration compared to controls.

Single cell RNA sequencing reveals a shift in cell function and maturation of endogenous and infiltrating cell types in response to acute intervertebral disc injury

This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze changes in cell function and maturation in the intervertebral disc after injury, identifying key cell populations and pathways involved in degeneration.

Multimodal imaging reveals multiscale mechanical interplay in vertebral endplate microarchitecture during intervertebral disc loading

This study uses multimodal imaging to examine mechanical strain and microarchitecture in vertebral endplates during intervertebral disc loading, revealing multiscale structural adaptations.

HMGB1 mediates macrophage recruitment and regional intervertebral disc tissue functional and mechanical property changes following injury.

This study shows HMGB1 promotes macrophage recruitment and worsens intervertebral disc degeneration after injury, with knockout mice showing reduced mechanical and structural damage.

Mineral Phase Changes During Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

The paper analyzes mineral phase changes in intervertebral discs from dogs, finding that herniated discs contain crystalline hydroxyapatite while non-herniated discs have amorphous calcium phosphate.

Parallel networks to predict TIMP and protease cell activity of Nucleus Pulposus cells exposed and not exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines

The paper uses a Parallel Network methodology to predict TIMP and protease activity in NP cells under various mechanical and inflammatory conditions.

Oral citrate supplementation mitigates age-associated pathological intervertebral disc calcification in LG/J mice

This study shows oral K3Citrate reduces disc calcification in LG/J mice without affecting bone structure or locomotion, suggesting Ca2+ chelation as a potential mechanism.

Nucleus Pulposus Cell Network Modelling in the Intervertebral Disc

The paper develops a regulatory network model of nucleus pulposus cells to simulate ECM regulation in intervertebral discs, showing how perturbations affect catabolic and anabolic processes.

Genome-wide meta-analysis conducted in three large biobanks expands the genetic landscape of lumbar disc herniations

This study conducts a genome-wide meta-analysis across three biobanks to identify new genetic loci associated with lumbar disc herniation, expanding the known genetic landscape.

Therapeutic effects of PDGF-AB/BB against cellular senescence in human intervertebral disc

This study shows that PDGF-AB/BB treatment reduces senescence in human intervertebral disc cells by modulating gene expression related to cell cycle, metabolism, and oxidative stress.

Single-cell Atlas Unveils Cellular Heterogeneity and Novel Markers in Human Neonatal and Adult Intervertebral Discs

The paper generates and compares single-cell atlases of human neonatal and adult intervertebral discs to identify cellular heterogeneity, sub-populations, and developmental trajectories.

Protocol for disease-oriented Russian disc degeneration study (RuDDS) biobank facilitating functional omics studies of lumbar disc degeneration

This paper describes a biobank protocol for studying lumbar disc degeneration using clinical and omics data from 1100 participants.

The role of miR-31-5p in the development of intervertebral disk degeneration and its therapeutic potential

This study identifies miR-31-5p as a key regulator of intervertebral disc degeneration, showing it promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis, and reduces matrix degradation by targeting the SDF-1/CXCR7 axis.

DIPPER: a spatiotemporal proteomics atlas of human intervertebral discs for exploring ageing and degeneration dynamics

DIPPER provides a spatiotemporal proteomics atlas of human intervertebral discs, revealing region-specific regulatory profiles and a hydration matrisome linked to MRI intensity.

Simulating intervertebral disc cell behavior within 3D multifactorial environments

This paper develops a hybrid Agent-based model to simulate intervertebral disc cell behavior in 3D multifactorial environments, showing cell death and viability changes under simulated stress conditions.

Homeostasis of the intervertebral disc requires regulation of STAT3 signaling by the adhesion G-protein coupled receptor ADGRG6

This study identifies ADGRG6 as a regulator of intervertebral disc homeostasis through STAT3 signaling, showing that inhibiting STAT3 reduces disc degeneration in a mouse model.

Downregulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 is involved in intervertebral disc degeneration via the ERK signaling pathway

Trans-ethnic polygenic analysis supports genetic overlaps of lumbar disc degeneration with height, body mass index, and bone mineral density

The paper uses polygenic scores to show genetic overlaps between lumbar disc degeneration and height, BMI, and BMD in Chinese and Japanese cohorts.