Main description:

Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the major causes of lower back pain for which the common therapeutic interventions are not efficient. A search for alternative therapies for lower back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration includes cell-based therapies. Unfortunately, intervertebral disc degeneration is avascular and thus a hostile environment for cell survival. Furthermore, cellular characterization in intervertebral disc degeneration, and particularly in the nucleus pulposus, is controversial, mainly due to lack of specific markers and species variability. This book adds to the knowledge on cellular and molecular therapies for intervertebral disc degeneration and associated lower back pain.

Key Selling Features:

Describes the ontogeny and phenotype of intervertebral disc cells

Reviews the role that inflammation plays in disco-genic pain

Highlights the types of cells that might be used as sources for treating degenerating intervertebral discs

Summarizes current alternative therapies

Explores methods for cell delivery into degenerated intervertebral discs

Contents:

Intervertebral disc degeneration in the clinics: therapeutic challenges. Cell therapies and pain in low back pain patients. Molecular therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration. Cell therapies for intervertebral disc with activated Nucleus Pulposus Cells. Mesenchymal Stem Cells-based therapies for intervertebral disc . Materials for cell delivery in degenerated intervertebral disc. Chemoattractors in intervertebral disc degeneration. Cell recruitment for degenerated intervertebral disc. Cell therapies and mechanotransduction in degenerated intervertebral disc. Molecular therapies with miRNA in degenerated intervertebral disc.