Bioengineered three-dimensional diseased intervertebral disc model revealed inflammatory crosstalk.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Understanding intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) pathophysiology is limited by the lack of appropriate disease models.
• This knowledge gap hinders the identification of therapeutic targets for IVDD treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a versatile three-dimensional (3D) intervertebral disc (IVD) model.
• To investigate the response of nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) cells to inflammatory stimulation (IL-1β).

Main Methods:

• Engineered a cell shape-regulated IVD model by modulating collagen hydrogel crosslinking.
• Studied molecular changes at the genetic level in response to inflammation.
• Analyzed extracellular matrix production and inflammatory pathways.

Main Results:

• Identified the role of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins in mitigating pro-inflammatory cytokine effects in degenerated NP tissue.
• Gained insights into genetic modulation of extracellular matrix components and inflammatory pathways.
• Provided understanding of glycan expression in diseased IVD.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D IVD model is a versatile tool for studying IVDD.
• The SOCS family plays a crucial role in protecting against inflammatory damage in degenerated IVD.
• The model aids in understanding molecular mechanisms and glycan expression in IVDD.