How to enhance the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to alleviate intervertebral disk degeneration

Intervertebral disk (ID) degeneration (IDD) is one of the main causes of chronic low back pain, and degenerative lesions are usually caused by an imbalance between catabolic and anabolic processes in the ID. The environment in which the ID is located is harsh, with almost no vascular distribution within the disk, and the nutrient supply relies mainly on the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from the blood vessels located under the endplate.

The stability of its internal environment also plays an important role in preventing IDD. The main feature of disk degeneration is a decrease in the number of cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells have been used in the treatment of disk lesions due to their ability to differentiate into nucleus pulposus cells in a nonspecific anti-inflammatory manner. The main purpose is to promote their regeneration. The current aim of stem cell therapy is to replace the aged and metamorphosed cells in the ID and to increase the content of the extracellular matrix.

The treatment of disk degeneration with stem cells has achieved good efficacy, and the current challenge is how to improve this efficacy.

In a study published in World Journal of Stem Cells researchers review current treatments for disk degeneration and summarize studies on stem cell vesicles, enhancement of therapeutic effects when stem cells are mixed with related substances, and improvements in the efficacy of stem cell therapy by adjuvants under adverse conditions.

In addition, they reviewed the new approaches and ideas for stem cell treatment of disk degeneration in order to contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to meet current challenges.

More information:
Qing-Xiang Zhang et al, How to enhance the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to alleviate intervertebral disc degeneration, World Journal of Stem Cells (2023). DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i11.989

Provided by World Journal of Stem Cells