The lumbar intervertebral disc: from embryonic development to degeneration.
Lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs) are prone to degeneration upon skeletal maturity. In fact, this process could explain approximately 40% of the cases of low back pain in humans. Despite the efficiency of pain-relieving treatments, the scientific community seeks to develop innovative therapeutic approaches that might limit the use of invasive surgical procedures (e.g., spine fusion and arthroplasty). As a prerequisite to the development of these strategies, we must improve our fundamental knowledge regarding IVD pathophysiology. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that there is a singular phenotype associated with Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, which is distinct from that of articular chondrocytes. In parallel, recent studies concerning the origin and development of NP cells, as well as their role in intervertebral tissue homeostasis, have yielded new insights into the complex mechanisms involved in disc degeneration. This review summarizes our current understanding of IVD physiology and the complex cell-mediated processes that contribute to IVD degeneration. Collectively, these recent advances could inspire the scientific community to explore new biotherapeutic strategies.
INSERM UMRS 791, LIOAD, Groupe Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology (STEP), 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Odontologie, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France.
Pauline
P
Colombier
INSERM UMRS 791, LIOAD, Groupe Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology (STEP), 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Odontologie, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Sciences Biologiques et Pharmaceutiques, 9, rue Bias, 44035 Nantes, France; CHU de Nantes, Pharmacie Centrale, 85, rue Saint-Jacques, 44093 Nantes, France.
Johann
J
Clouet
INSERM UMRS 791, LIOAD, Groupe Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology (STEP), 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Odontologie, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, 1, rue Gaston-Veil, 44035 Nantes, France; CHU de Nantes, Service de Neurotraumatologie, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44000 Nantes, France.
Olivier
O
Hamel
INSERM UMRS 791, LIOAD, Groupe Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology (STEP), 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Odontologie, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Sciences et Techniques, 2, chemin de la Houssinière, 44300 Nantes, France.
Laurent
L
Lescaudron
INSERM UMRS 791, LIOAD, Groupe Skeletal Tissue Engineering and Physiopathology (STEP), 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; Université de Nantes, UFR Odontologie, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44042 Nantes, France; CHU de Nantes, Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire 4 OTONN, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44000 Nantes, France. Electronic address: jerome.guicheux@inserm.fr.
Jérôme
J
Guicheux
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae
Cartilage; Degeneration; Embryogenesis; Intervertebral disc