title: MicroRNAs: New players in intervertebral disc degeneration.
abstract: Chronic low back pain is generally attributed to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD), which is closely associated with apoptosis, extracellular matrix (ECM) disruption, cell proliferation and inflammatory response. Currently, there is no clinical therapy targeting the pathophysiology of disc degeneration. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional levels. miRNAs not only regulate many normal physiological processes, but also play an important role in the development of most disorders, including degenerative disc disease. A variety of miRNAs are differentially expressed in degenerative human IVD tissues and cells. Among these, some of the miRNAs have been shown to be involved in multiple pathological processes during disc degeneration, including apoptosis, ECM degradation, cell proliferation and inflammatory response. This review will mainly focus on the expression profiles, roles, and therapeutic implications of miRNAs in IDD. With continued efforts, restoration of dysregulated miRNA expression may represent a promising biological treatment approach for mitigating or reversing IVD degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China; Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Guo
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Micro-surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Xiao
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Micro-surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Han
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China. Electronic address: 578151825@qq.com.
authors.forename: Zhi-Sheng
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Apoptosis; Cell proliferation; IDD; MiRNAs; NP cells