Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39920317›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2025

Effects of GDF6 on active protein synthesis by cells of degenerated intervertebral disc.

Vivian Tam, Neha Chopra, Stone Sima, Peikai Chen, Rakesh Sharma, Danny Chan, Ashish Diwan

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Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. [Research progress of hydrogel-based growth factors for treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Vivian Tam *School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China.
Neha Chopra *Spine Labs, St. George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Stone SimaSpine Labs, St. George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Peikai ChenDepartment of Orthopaedics, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
Rakesh SharmaProteomics and Metabolomics Core, Centre for PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China.
Danny ChanSchool of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., China.
Ashish DiwanSpine Labs, St. George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. a.diwan@unsw.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIntervertebral disc degeneration (IVD) is a leading cause of low back pain, a prevalent musculoskeletal condition. IVD degeneration is characterized by the degradation of nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and cartilage endplates (EP). Growth Differentiation Factor 6 (GDF6), part of the bone morphogenetic protein family, has demonstrated potential in maintaining disc integrity. However, its precise role in cellular protein synthesis during IVD degeneration remains unclear.

methodsThis study employed Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino Acids in Cell Culture (SILAC) to investigate the effects of GDF6 on protein synthesis in NP, AF, and EP cells isolated from degenerated human IVDs. Cells were cultured in SILAC media with and without GDF6 treatment. The proteomic profiles were analyzed via mass spectrometry, comparing newly synthesized "heavy" proteins with pre-existing "light" proteins.

resultsGDF6 treatment altered protein synthesis in degenerated IVD cells. In NP cells, GDF6 reduced the synthesis of matrisome proteins, including collagens and proteoglycans, while promoting proteins associated with ECM stability, such as LOX, PCOLCE and HAPLN1/3. AF cells demonstrated an upregulation of ECM-stabilizing proteins like POSTN and FMOD. EP cells showed minimal changes, but GDF6 enhanced the synthesis of collagen type II, suggesting improved ECM integrity. Secretome analysis revealed that GDF6 modulated extracellular signalling by promoting ECM-stabilizing proteins and reducing inflammatory markers.

conclusionGDF6 exerts compartment-specific effects on protein synthesis in degenerated IVDs, promoting ECM stability, reducing fibrosis, and potentially preserving hydration. These findings support the potential of GDF6 as a therapeutic agent in treating IVD degeneration, particularly in NP-targeted therapies. Future studies should optimize GDF6 dosing and delivery to maximize its regenerative potential.

Indexed as

Growth Differentiation Factor 6Intervertebral DiscIntervertebral Disc DegenerationNucleus PulposusProtein BiosynthesisAdultAgedAnnulus FibrosusCells, CulturedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedGDF6 protein, humanGrowth Differentiation Factor 6Annulus FibrosusCartilage EndplateGrowth Differentiation Factor 6Intervertebral Disc DegenerationNucleus PulposusProteomicsSILAC

Identifiers

PMID39920317

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.