skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Stem cell horizons in intervertebral disc degeneration

Review

(6281) Views  (1866) Full article downloads

Authors: Joseph Ciacci, Allen Ho, Christopher P Ames, Rahul Jandial

Published Date January 2009 Volume 2008:1 Pages 31 - 39
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/SCCAA.S2825

Joseph Ciacci1, Allen Ho1,2, Christopher P Ames3, Rahul Jandial4

1Division of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; 2Del E Webb Neurosciences, Aging and Stem Cell Research Center, The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, California, USA; 3Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; 4Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA

Abstract: Intervertebral disc degeneration remains a pervasive and intractable disease arising from a combination of aging and stress on the back and spine. The growing field of regenerative medicine brings the promise of stem cells in the treatment of disc disease. Scientists and physicians hope to employ stem cells not only to stop, but also reverse degeneration. However, there are many important outstanding issues, including the hostile avascular, apoptotic physiological environment of the intervertebral disc, and the difficulty of obtaining mesenchymal stem cells, and directing them towards chondrocytic differentiation and integration within the nucleus pulposus of the disc. Given the recent advances in minimally invasive spine surgery, and developing body of work on stem cell manipulation and transplantation, stem cells are uniquely poised to bring about large-scale improvements in treatment and outcomes for degenerative disc disease. In this review we will first discuss the cellular and molecular factors influencing degeneration, and then examine the efficacy and difficulties of stem cell transplantation.

Keywords: intervertebral disc degeneration, stem cells, disc disease, mesenchymal stem cells, stem cell transplantation






 

Other articles by Dr Rahul Jandial



Readers of this article also read:

Radiolucency below the crown of mandibular horizontal incompletely impacted third molars and acute inflammation in men with diabetes
Berberine: metabolic and cardiovascular effects in preclinical and clinical trials
Potential renovascular hypertension, space missions, and the role of magnesium
Critical appraisal of the role of glucosamine and chondroitin in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee
Ego mechanisms of defense are associated with patients’ preference of treatment modality independent of psychological distress in end-stage renal disease
Can a gentamicin-specific chart reduce neonatal medication errors?
Morgellons disease: Analysis of a population with clinically confirmed microscopic subcutaneous fibers of unknown etiology
Nephroprotective action of glycosaminoglycans: why the pharmacological properties of sulodexide might be reconsidered
Dashboards in neonatology
Everolimus-eluting stents: update on current clinical studies
  • Testimonials

    "... I was impressed at the rapidity of publication from submission to final acceptance." Dr Edwin Thrower, PhD, Yale University