L. Ambrosio, Jordy Schol, C. Ruiz-Fernández, Shota Tamagawa, Kieran Joyce, Akira Nomura, Elisabetta de Rinaldis, Daisuke Sakai, R. Papalia, G. Vadalà, Vincenzo Denaro
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is the largest avascular organ of the human body and plays a fundamental role in providing the spine with its unique structural and biomechanical functions. The inner part of the IVD contains the nucleus pulposus (NP), a gel-like tissue characterized by a high content of type II collagen and proteoglycans, which is crucial for the disc’s load-bearing and shock-absorbing properties. With aging and IVD degeneration (IDD), the NP gradually loses its physiological characteristics, leading to low back pain and additional sequelae. In contrast to surrounding spinal tissues, the NP presents a distinctive embryonic development since it directly derives from the notochord. This review aims to explore the embryology of the NP, emphasizing the pivotal roles of key transcription factors, which guide the differentiation and maintenance of the NP cellular components from the notochord and surrounding sclerotome. Through an understanding of NP development, we sought to investigate the implications of the critical developmental aspects in IVD-related pathologies, such as IDD and the rare malignant chordomas. Moreover, this review discusses the therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways, including the novel regenerative approaches leveraging insights from NP development and embryology to potentially guide future treatments.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Developmental Biology (ISSN 2221-3759) is an international, peer-reviewed, quick-refereeing, open access journal, which publishes reviews, research papers and communications on the development of multicellular organisms at the molecule, cell, tissue, organ and whole organism levels. Our aim is to encourage researchers to effortlessly publish their new findings or concepts rapidly in an open access medium, overseen by their peers. There is no restriction on the length of the papers; the full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. Electronic files regarding the full details of the experimental procedure, if unable to be published in a normal way, can be deposited as supplementary material. Journal of Developmental Biology focuses on: -Development mechanisms and genetics -Cell differentiation -Embryonal development -Tissue/organism growth -Metamorphosis and regeneration of the organisms. It involves many biological fields, such as Molecular biology, Genetics, Physiology, Cell biology, Anatomy, Embryology, Cancer research, Neurobiology, Immunology, Ecology, Evolutionary biology.