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Symptomatic versus Asymptomatic Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Is Inflammation the Key?
- Source :
-
Critical reviews in eukaryotic gene expression [Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr] 2015; Vol. 25 (1), pp. 13-21. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Degenerated intervertebral discs (d-IVDs) contribute to low back pain (LBP) and are highly common. While some d-IVDs cause discogenic LBP, others are pain-free. Understanding the differences in pathophysiology between painful and pain-free intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), especially the pathogenic signaling involved in the regulation of painful d-IVDs, is vital for achieving satisfactory effects in clinical treatment. In this review, we revisit recent findings on the detection of inflammatory factors in d-IVDs and summarize the differences between d-IVDs that are painful and those that are pain-free. We postulate that persistent inflammation and innervation are the key factors distinguishing those that are symptomatic and those that are not. This highlights the necessity to use painful, rather than pain-free, degenerated discs in the mechanistic study of disc degeneration and in the development of regenerative approaches, to avoid false positive/negative outcomes. Based on previous molecular d-IVD studies, we also postulate the signaling events from disc overload/ injury to discogenic pain. Although these proposed events are supported by experimental findings, many details about how they are interconnected are not addressed and therefore require experimental investigation.
- Subjects :
- Humans
Inflammation complications
Inflammation therapy
Intervertebral Disc innervation
Intervertebral Disc physiopathology
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration complications
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration therapy
Low Back Pain complications
Low Back Pain therapy
Regeneration
Inflammation physiopathology
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration physiopathology
Low Back Pain physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1045-4403
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Critical reviews in eukaryotic gene expression
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25955814
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1615/critreveukaryotgeneexpr.2015012369