Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39426787›Full record

ArticleOsteoarthritis and cartilage2025

Sex-specific divergences in the types and timing of infiltrating immune cells during the intervertebral disc acute injury response and their associations with degeneration.

Sade W Clayton, Remy E Walk, Laura Mpofu, Garrett W D Easson, Simon Y Tang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. HMGB1 Mediates Macrophage Recruitment and Regional Intervertebral Disc Properties Following Injury.FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 2025
    Article
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sade W ClaytonWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Remy E WalkWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Laura MpofuWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Garrett W D EassonWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Simon Y TangWashington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: simon.tang@wust.edu.

Funding

Resource Based Center for Musculoskeletal Biology and Medicine (Overall Application)P30AR074992 · NIAMS · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI MATTHEW J SILVA · 2019 to 2026
$6.8M
Skeletal Disorders Training ProgramT32AR060719 · NIAMS · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Roberto Civitelli · 2011 to 2026
$4.6M
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Cross-Talk with the Nervous System - NOSI Diversity SupplementR01AR077678 · NIAMS · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI SETTON, LORI A., TANG, SIMON YUE-CHEONG · 2020 to 2024
$3.7M
The role of physiologic and pathologic AGEs on RAGE signaling in IVD degenerationR01AR074441 · NIAMS · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI TANG, SIMON YUE-CHEONG · 2019 to 2024
$2.1M
TRAINING IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINET32EB028092 · NIBIB · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Farshid Guilak · 2020 to 2026
$2.0M
The Role of VEGF in the Development of Low Back Pain Following IVD InjuryR21AR081517 · NIAMS · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI GUPTA, MUNISH, TANG, SIMON YUE-CHEONG · 2023 to 2024
$371k
NIAMS NIH HHS P30 AR074992NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR074441NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR077678NIAMS NIH HHS R21 AR081517NIAMS NIH HHS T32 AR060719NIBIB NIH HHS T32 EB028092
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveInadequate repair of the intervertebral disc (IVD) contributes to low back pain. Infiltrating immune cells into damaged tissues are critical mediators of repair, yet little is known about the identities, roles, and temporal regulation following IVD injury. By analyzing transcripts of immune cell markers, histopathologic analysis, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry, we aimed to define the temporal cascade of infiltrating immune cells and their associations with IVD degeneration.

methodsCaudal IVDs from 12-week-old C57BL6/J mice were injured and monitored for 42 days post-injury. Transcriptional markers identifying myeloid, B, and T immune cells, and angiogenic factors were measured from the IVDs every 2-3 days. Histopathologic degeneration of the IVD was measured throughout. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence were used to identify and localize cells including B, T, natural killer T (NKT) cells, monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils, and dendritic cells.

resultsThe injured IVD revealed distinct phases of inflammation and proliferation. Robust temporal oscillation in the myeloid and T cell transcripts was observed in females. Cd3+ T cells were more abundant in females than in males. The Cd3+Cd4-Cd8- T cells that dominate the female cascade contain rare γδ T cells. Injury-mediated degeneration was prevalent in both sexes but more severe in males.

conclusionsThis study defines the coordinated infiltration of immune cells in the IVD following injury. We report the discovery of γδ T cells in the female IVD, and this was associated with less severe degeneration. γδ T cells have potent anti-inflammatory roles and may suppress degeneration following IVD injury.

Indexed as

Intervertebral DiscIntervertebral Disc DegenerationAnimalsB-LymphocytesDendritic CellsFemaleFlow CytometryMacrophagesMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMyeloid CellsSex FactorsT-LymphocytesImmune cellsIntervertebral disc degenerationIVD acute injuryIVD repairγδ T cells

Identifiers

PMID39426787
PMCPMC12525793

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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 OpenQuestion graph.