Modifications Of Mirnas In Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Key To The Future Development Of Genetic-Based Therapies

Abstract

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the main cause of low back pain, which is a healthcare concern associated with high social and economic burden. The current medical and surgical therapies are inadequate and ineffective. Several miRNAs have been identified that modulate (via up- or down-regulation) the pathogenesis of IDD through various signaling pathways. Understanding the nature of this regulation and their signaling pathways will enable researchers to manipulate miRNA regulation to develop miRNA-based therapies. The development of miRNA-based therapies opens a future window through which to decrease the IDD process or regenerate the intervertebral disc. In the near future, the obstacles associated with miRNA-based therapies will be overcome and these therapies will move from the bench to the bedside.

The NFATc1/P2X7 receptor relationship in human intervertebral disc cells

“…Molecules associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, senescence, and degradation of the extracellular matrix are at the center of interest of numerous studies aimed at understanding the different phenomena that support the onset of IDD ( Kamali et al, 2021 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ). More recently, interest has also turned to molecular factors that may play critical roles in regulating discogenic differentiation, such as specific transcription factors or effectors of epigenetic modifications whose activity is conditioned by the complex interaction of IVD cells with the microenvironment ( Lin et al, 2019 ; Ghaffarpasand et al, 2023 ; Kang et al, 2023 ).…”