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Mechanical loading of the intervertebral disc: from the macroscopic to the cellular level

  • Review Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Mechanical loading represents an integral part of intervertebral disc (IVD) homeostasis. This review aims to summarise recent knowledge on the effects of mechanical loads on the IVD and the disc cells, taking into consideration the changes that IVDs undergo during ageing and degeneration, from the macroscopic to the cellular and subcellular level.

Methods

Non-systematic literature review.

Results

Several scientific papers investigated the external loads that act on the spine and the resulting stresses inside the IVD, which contribute to estimate the mechanical stimuli that influence the cells that are embedded within the disc matrix. As disc cell responses are also influenced by their biochemical environment, recent papers addressed the role that degradation pathways play in the regulation of (1) cell viability, proliferation and differentiation and (2) matrix production and turnover. Special emphasis was put on the intracellular-signalling pathways, as mechanotransduction pathways play an important role in the maintenance of normal disc metabolism and in disc degenerative pathways.

Conclusions

Disc cells are exposed to a wide range of mechanical loads, and the biochemical environment influences their responses. Degeneration-associated alterations of the disc matrix change the biochemical environment of disc cells and also the mechanical properties of the disc matrix. Recent studies indicate that these factors interact and regulate disc matrix turnover.

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Acknowledgments

All co-authors of this review wish to thank Dr. Michelle Kümin for her helpful revision of this manuscript. Part of the studies cited in the present review has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme Genodisc (FP7, 2007-2013) under Grant Agreement No. HEALTH-F2-2008-201626.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Musculoskeletal Research Ulm, Institute of Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 14, 89081, Ulm, Germany

    Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke, Fabio Galbusera, Antje Mietsch & Hans-Joachim Wilke

  2. IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy

    Fabio Galbusera

  3. Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Ageing, Institute of Biology, NCSR “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece

    Harris Pratsinis, Eleni Mavrogonatou & Dimitris Kletsas

Authors
  1. Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke
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  2. Fabio Galbusera
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  3. Harris Pratsinis
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  4. Eleni Mavrogonatou
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  5. Antje Mietsch
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  6. Dimitris Kletsas
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  7. Hans-Joachim Wilke
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Correspondence to Cornelia Neidlinger-Wilke.

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Neidlinger-Wilke, C., Galbusera, F., Pratsinis, H. et al. Mechanical loading of the intervertebral disc: from the macroscopic to the cellular level. Eur Spine J 23 (Suppl 3), 333–343 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2855-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2855-9

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