Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40337077›Full record

ArticleJOR spine2025

Diurnal Asymmetric Loading Modulates Cell Phenotype in Intervertebral Disc.

Ying Zhang, Jianbiao Xu, Zhiyu Zhou, R Geoff Richards, Mauro Alini, Sibylle Grad, Zhen Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JOR spine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
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.

Ying ZhangAO Research Institute Davos Davos Switzerland.
Jianbiao XuDepartment of Orthopaedics First Affiliated Hospital of Tsinghua University Beijing China.
Zhiyu ZhouDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University Shenzhen China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8101-2083
R Geoff RichardsAO Research Institute Davos Davos Switzerland.
Mauro AliniAO Research Institute Davos Davos Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0262-1412
Sibylle GradAO Research Institute Davos Davos Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9552-3653
Zhen LiAO Research Institute Davos Davos Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9754-6389

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: This study tested the hypothesis that asymmetric dynamic loading alone or in combination with static loading influences the morphological and biological characteristics of the intervertebral disc (IVD) cells in an ex vivo model. Methods: Bovine caudal IVDs were assigned to four groups: (1) Parallel dynamic load (1 h) + free swelling (23 h); (2) Parallel dynamic load (1 h) + static load (23 h); (3) Wedge dynamic load (1 h) + free swelling (23 h); (4) Wedge dynamic load (1 h) + static load (23 h). IVD structure was assessed with measurements of height loss and histological staining. IVD tissue and cellular responses were also measured. Results: Diurnal dynamic loading and free swelling recovery could maintain cell viability and the gene expression of organ-cultured discs at their physiological level. Diurnal dynamic loading followed by static loading resulted in a degenerative condition, as indicated by lower cell viability, lower anabolic, and higher catabolic gene expression. Under the dynamic load + free swelling load regime, wedge loading upregulated the ACAN gene expression level in the concave and convex sides of the annulus fibrosus (AF) compared with day 0 healthy control. Under the dynamic load + static loading regime, the MMP1 gene expression showed a trend of increase in the concave and convex sides of the wedge group; the MMP13 gene expression showed a trend of increase in the concave side of the wedge group. The nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue in the wedge group showed a trend of protrusion toward the convex side. Conclusion: Dynamic loading followed by continuous static loading negatively modulates the phenotype of IVD cells in this organ culture model. Comparable to the free swelling treatment after dynamic loading, physical treatment to reduce the stress on the IVD, even temporarily, may help to prevent the acceleration of deformity and degeneration. These results indicate that asymmetric loading followed by static loading may be used to mimic pathological changes of the IVD in spinal deformity.

Indexed as

asymmetric loadingdisc degenerationintervertebral discorgan culture modelscoliosis

Identifiers

PMID40337077
PMCPMC12056591

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.