TGF-β signaling in intervertebral disc health and disease

• Published in: Osteoarthritis and cartilage Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 1109 - 1117
• Main Authors: Chen, S., Liu, S., Ma, K., Zhao, L., Lin, H., Shao, Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2019
• Subjects: Degeneration; Intervertebral disc; Nucleus pulposus; Transforming growth factor-β; Degeneration; Nucleus pulposus; Transforming growth factor-β; Intervertebral disc
• ISSN: 1063-4584; 1522-9653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2019.05.005

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the changing role of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in intervertebral disc (IVD) health and disease. A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed terms ‘TGF-β’ and ‘IVD’. TGF-β signaling is necessary for the development and growth of IVD, and can play a protective role in the restoration of IVD tissues by stimulating matrix synthesis, inhibiting matrix catabolism, inflammatory response and cell loss. However, excessive activation of TGF-β signaling is detrimental to the IVD, and inhibition of the aberrant TGF-β signaling can delay IVD degeneration. Activation of TGF-β signaling has a promising treatment prospect for IVD degeneration, while excessive activation of TGF-β signaling may contribute to the progression of IVD degeneration. Studies aimed at elucidating the changing role of TGF-β signaling in IVD at different pathophysiological stages and its specific molecular mechanisms are needed, and these studies will contribute to safe and effective TGF-β signaling-based treatments for IVD degeneration.