Genetic Therapy for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Abstract

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration can cause chronic lower back pain (LBP), leading to disability. Despite significant advances in the treatment of discogenic LBP, the limitations of current treatments have sparked interest in biological approaches, including growth factor and stem cell injection, as new treatment options for patients with chronic LBP due to IVD degeneration (IVDD). Gene therapy represents exciting new possibilities for IVDD treatment, but treatment is still in its infancy. Literature searches were conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to provide an overview of the principles and current state of gene therapy for IVDD. Gene transfer to degenerated disc cells in vitro and in animal models is reviewed. In addition, this review describes the use of gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) and gene editing by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, as well as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in vitro and in animal models. Significant technological advances in recent years have opened the door to a new generation of intradiscal gene therapy for the treatment of chronic discogenic LBP.

IL‐17 in intervertebral disc degeneration: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic implications

“…However, how IL-17 exerts such an effect remains poorly understood and needs to be investigated. Huang et al, 2018;Lykov et al, 2020;Roh et al, 2021). Their efficacy and safety remain to be evaluated in the clinical settings.…”

Advances and Prospects in Biomaterials for Intervertebral Disk Regeneration

“…Current treatment methods, such as symptomatic treatment or surgical treatment, can relieve symptoms in the short term but cannot solve the fundamental problem. Genetic modification of intervertebral disk cells through controlled and specific delivery of genetic material (DNA or RNA) is a promising therapeutic approach (Figure 1) (Roh et al, 2021). Many researchers have successfully transferred genes into intervertebral disk tissues through viral gene delivery systems (Figure 1) (Leckie et al, 2012;Han et al, 2021), but the obvious side effects limit further clinical application.…”

An Overview in the Management of Lumbar Degenerative Disc Diseases: Review Article

“…Approximately 40% of adenovirus and retroviral vectors have been utilized in clinical studies so far. However, because of the many side effects and dangers associated with viral vectors, research on non-viral vectors that can replace viral vectors is also underway [22].…”