SynthesisFrontiers in medicine2026
Mapping the degenerating intervertebral disc: a systematic review of histological evidence.
Synthesis in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Resetting the epigenetic clock: cellular senescence and regenerative strategies in intervertebral disc degeneration.Frontiers in aging · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major cause of low back pain and disability. While MRI remains the standard diagnostic tool, it provides limited insight into the cellular and molecular changes underlying IDD. Histological analysis offers a complementary approach to characterizing the degenerative process in human intervertebral discs (IVDs). This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of histological and immunohistochemical changes across the IVD, nucleus pulposus (NP), and cartilage endplate (CEP) in degenerated human discs. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 45 human studies were included. Histological features, protein expression profiles, and grading systems were analyzed. Differentially expressed proteins were mapped into protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks using the STRING database. Results: Common histopathological features included ECM disorganization, proteoglycan depletion, fibrosis, neovascularization, and cell clustering. Molecular data revealed upregulation of catabolic enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic mediators, and angiogenic factors. Conversely, regenerative and protective markers were significantly downregulated. PPI analysis revealed region-specific pathways: ECM remodeling and BMP/VEGF signaling in the IVD, inflammation and mechanotransduction in the NP, and ossification and prostaglandin signaling in the CEP. Conclusion: Histology reveals spatially distinct yet converging degenerative pathways across IVD regions. These findings identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets, supporting histological analysis as an essential complement to imaging for accurate IDD characterization.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.