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Molecular Basis of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

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Regenerative Biology of the Spine and Spinal Cord

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 760))

Abstract

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a disease of the discs connecting adjoining vertebrae in which structural damage leads to degeneration of the disc and surrounding area. Degeneration of the disc is considered to be a normal process of aging, but can accelerate faster than expected or be precipitated by other factors. The scientific community has come a long way in understanding the biological basis and interpreting the lifestyle implications of IVD degeneration. Of all the diseases of the intervertebral disc, degeneration is the most common and has earned much attention due to its diversity in presentation and potential multiorgan involvement. We will provide a brief overview of the anatomic, cellular, and molecular structure of the IVD, and delve into the cellular and molecular pathophysiology surrounding IVD degeneration. We will then highlight some of the newest developments in stem cell, protein, and genetic therapy for IVD degeneration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California, USA

    Dipika Gopal & Amol Shah

  2. Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    Allen L. Ho

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    John H. Chi

Authors
  1. Dipika Gopal
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  2. Allen L. Ho
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  3. Amol Shah
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  4. John H. Chi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosurgery, City of Hope Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Rahul Jandial MD, PhD  & Mike Y. Chen MD, PhD  & 

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© 2012 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media

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Gopal, D., Ho, A.L., Shah, A., Chi, J.H. (2012). Molecular Basis of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. In: Jandial, R., Chen, M.Y. (eds) Regenerative Biology of the Spine and Spinal Cord. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 760. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4090-1_8

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