ReviewJOR spine2025
Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies of Macrophage Polarization in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.
Review in JOR spine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Global trends and hotspots of macrophage-related research in intervertebral disc degeneration from 2005 to 2025: a bibliometric and visualized analysis.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Pooled it
- Gut-Intervertebral Disc Axis: Gut Microbiome-Driven Immune-Metabolic Imbalance and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.Journal of cellular physiology · 2026Review
- Uncovering ectopic GC-like niches for tumor reactive lymphocyte priming in lung adenocarcinoma using Stereo-XCR-seq.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Proteostasis Dysfunction and Heat Shock Protein Networks in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026Review
- Dual-functional hydrogel platform suppresses M1 activation and stabilizes M2 macrophages in intervertebral disc degeneration.Materials today. Bio · 2026Article
- Targeting pyroptosis to treat aortic aneurysms: From mechanism to drug discovery (Review).International journal of molecular medicine · 2026Review
- A continuous DNA repairing system for alleviating intervertebral disc degeneration.Journal of nanobiotechnology · 2026Article
- Advances in the study of macrophage polarization in intervertebral disc degeneration.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 · 2026Review
- Biomimetic KeMA hydrogel encapsulating CAP-EVs-MEF2C for inhibiting inflammation and senescence in intervertebral disc degeneration.Journal of nanobiotechnology · 2026Article
- 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
- ROS-Responsive Wedelolactone Hydrogel Promotes Intervertebral Disc Repair by Disrupting the NF-κB-LCN2 Inflammatory Feedback Loop.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Blood and lymphatic vascular remodeling in intervertebral disc degeneration.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- TAFA4 Mitigates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Modulating Macrophage Polarization and Inhibiting ROS-NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation.Neurospine · 2026Article
- Inflammasome-associated pyroptosis and tumor angiogenesis in prostate cancer.Iranian journal of basic medical sciences · 2026Review
- ACE-mediated Glycosylation Stabilizes PSAP To Promote GPR37-dependent Macrophage-Nucleus Pulposus Cells Crosstalk and TGFβ Signaling in Alleviating Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025Article
- Tie2-mediated CBL ubiquitination of EGFR underlies ultrasound-responsive silk fibroin/graphene oxide hydrogel-troxerutin therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration.Materials today. Bio · 2025Article
- Bioinformatics and Experimental Validation of FLVCR1 and SOX4 in Regulating Mitochondria-Macrophage Crosstalk in Disc Degeneration.Journal of inflammation research · 2025Article
- Mechanism-guided biomaterial strategies for intervertebral disc degeneration: Pathological heterogeneity, functional classification, and translational perspectives.Journal of tissue engineeringReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of low back pain (LBP), contributing significantly to global disability and productivity loss. Its pathogenesis involves complex processes, including inflammation, cellular senescence, angiogenesis, fibrosis, neural ingrowth, and sensitization. Emerging evidence highlights macrophages as central immune regulators infiltrating degenerated discs, with macrophage polarization implicated in IVDD progression. However, the mechanisms linking macrophage polarization to IVDD pathology remain poorly elucidated. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted by searching major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) for studies published in the last decade (2014-2024). Keywords included "intervertebral disc degeneration," "macrophage polarization," "inflammation," "senescence," and "therapeutic strategies." Relevant articles were selected, analyzed, and synthesized to evaluate the role of macrophage polarization in IVDD. Results: Macrophage polarization dynamically influences IVDD through multiple pathways. Pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages exacerbate disc degeneration by amplifying inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β), promoting cellular senescence, and stimulating abnormal angiogenesis and neural ingrowth. In contrast, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages may mitigate degeneration by suppressing inflammation and enhancing tissue repair. Therapeutic strategies targeting macrophage polarization include pharmacological agents (e.g., cytokines, small-molecule inhibitors), biologic therapies, gene editing, and physical interventions. Challenges persist, such as incomplete understanding of polarization triggers, lack of targeted delivery systems, and limited translational success in preclinical models. Conclusion: Macrophage polarization is a pivotal regulator of IVDD pathology, offering promising therapeutic targets. Future research should focus on elucidating polarization mechanisms, optimizing spatiotemporal control of macrophage phenotypes, and developing personalized therapies. Addressing these challenges may advance innovative strategies to halt or reverse IVDD progression, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for LBP patients.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.