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Gas therapy: an innovative application for intervertebral disc degeneration
Lu Cai1, Bin Ru2, Haijiang Ren3
1Department of Painology, Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China.
Medical Gas Research
|January 7, 2026
Summary
Gas therapy offers a promising approach for intervertebral disc degeneration by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress. Clinically used ozone and oxygen therapies, along with emerging gas treatments, show potential for pain relief and functional improvement.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a challenging condition due to the disc's avascular nature and complex biomechanics.
- Conventional therapies for IVDD have limitations in efficacy and may involve invasive risks.
- Bioactive gases present a novel therapeutic paradigm for IVDD, targeting key pathological mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the innovative applications of gas therapeutics for intervertebral disc degeneration.
- To analyze the molecular properties, biological functions, and mechanistic actions of various gas therapies.
- To evaluate the potential of gas therapies in modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and extracellular matrix metabolism in IVDD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on gas therapies for IVDD, including ozone, hyperbaric oxygen, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and nitric oxide.
- Analysis of preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects.
- Examination of combination strategies integrating gas therapy with other regenerative approaches.
Main Results:
- Gas therapies, including established ozone and hyperbaric oxygen, demonstrate efficacy in pain alleviation and functional improvement for IVDD.
- Mechanisms involve scavenging reactive oxygen species, suppressing inflammation, inhibiting inflammasomes, and enhancing collagen synthesis.
- Combination strategies show synergistic potential for enhanced anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anabolic effects.
Conclusions:
- Gas therapeutics offer minimally invasive and multimodal strategies for IVDD management.
- These therapies effectively modulate key pathological cascades, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and matrix dysregulation.
- Further research into precise molecular pathways and large-scale clinical trials is warranted to optimize treatment protocols.
Keywords:
gasgas therapyhydrogenhydrogen sulfidehyperbaric oxygenintervertebral disc degenerationlow back painnitric oxidenucleus pulposusozoneMore Related Videos
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