ArticleArthritis research & therapy2022
Fibrotic alterations in human annulus fibrosus correlate with progression of intervertebral disc herniation.
Article in Arthritis research & therapy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Clinical efficacy of exercise therapy for lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Article
- Potential Role of Mast Cells in Intervertebral Disc Ageing, Herniation Resolution, and Degeneration: Evidence and Lessons Learned from Studies of Mast Cells in Other Connective Tissues.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Intervertebral disc degeneration.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2026Review
- Understanding the Microenvironment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Therapeutic Implications.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies of Macrophage Polarization in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.JOR spine · 2025Review
- Genetics- and age-driven neuroimmune and disc changes underscore herniation susceptibility and pain-associated behaviors in SM/J mice.Science advances · 2025Article
- Exploring the Causes of Intervertebral Disc Annulus Fibrosus Impairment.Cellular and molecular bioengineering · 2025Review
- Proteomic profiling of human plasma and intervertebral disc tissue reveals matrisomal, but not plasma, biomarkers of disc degeneration.Arthritis research & therapy · 2025Article
- Article
- Postoperative Epidural Fibrosis: Challenges and Opportunities - A Review.Spine surgery and related research · 2024Review
- Therapeutic effect and mechanism of Yougui Wan in rats with intervertebral disk degeneration.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- Article
- Failure mechanical properties of lumbar intervertebral disc under high loading rate.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- Does Vitamin K2 Influence the Interplay between Diabetes Mellitus and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in a Rat Model?Nutrients · 2023Article
- Article
- Physalin A alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration via anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects.Journal of orthopaedic translation · 2023Article
- Macrophages and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
- Emerging role and therapeutic implication of mTOR signalling in intervertebral disc degeneration.Cell proliferation · 2023Review
- Current Perspectives on Nucleus Pulposus Fibrosis in Disc Degeneration and Repair.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIntervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is characterized by annulus fibrosus failure (AF) in containing the nucleus pulposus (NP). IVD herniation involves cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) alterations that have been associated with tissue fibrosis, although still poorly investigated.
methodsHere, fibrotic alterations in human AF were evaluated, by characterizing the herniated ECM. Human AF samples (herniated lumbar IVD (n = 39, age 24-83) and scoliosis controls (n = 6, age 15-21)) were processed for transmission electron microscopy and histological/immunohistochemical analysis of fibrotic markers. Correlations between the fibrotic markers in AF ECM and the degree of NP containment (protused, contained and uncontained) and patients' age were conducted.
resultsOur results demonstrate that with herniation progression, i.e. loss of NP containment, human AF presents less stained area of sulphated glycosaminoglycans and collagen I, being collagen I fibres thinner and disorganized. On the other hand, fibronectin stained area and percentage of α-smooth muscle actin+ cells increase in human AF, while matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12) production and percentage of macrophages (CD68+ cells) remain constant. These structural and biochemical fibrotic alterations observed in human AF with herniation progression occur independently of the age.
conclusionsThe characterization of human AF here conducted evidence the presence of fibrosis in degenerated IVD, while highlighting the importance of considering the herniation progression stage, despite the patients' age, for a better understanding of the mechanisms behind AF failure and IVD herniation.
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