Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41614764›Full record

ArticleCurrent issues in molecular biology2025

Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis and Experimental Validation of Notochordal Cells and Nucleus Pulposus Cells: Uncovering Novel Therapeutic Targets for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Yanhu Li, Peng Cheng, Haijun Zhang, Shijie Chen, Huan Liu, Kun Wang, Jing Wang, Xuewen Kang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Current issues in molecular biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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

8 authors.

Yanhu LiThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.ORCID 0009-0002-4512-0818
Peng ChengThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.
Haijun ZhangThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.
Shijie ChenThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.
Huan LiuThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0306-9655
Kun WangThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.
Jing WangThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.
Xuewen KangThe Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, 82 Cuiyingmen, Lanzhou 730030, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5877-9198

Funding

Lanzhou University Second Hospital Cuiying Science and Technology Innovation Program CY2023-MS-B07National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272536National Natural Science Foundation of China 82460436Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province 23JRRA1012Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province 23JRRA1636Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province 24JRRA1158
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Current therapeutic strategies for intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD)-related low back pain are limited to symptomatic alleviation. Notochordal cells (NCs), as progenitor cells of the nucleus pulposus (NP), lead us to develop innovative NC-based new therapies for IDD. A total of 40 NP specimens, obtained according to IDD criteria with defined Pfirrmann grades and histological degeneration score, were categorized as either normal (Grade II) or degenerated (Grade IV). An IDD model was established in SD rats by needle puncture of the annulus fibrosus. Degenerated NP tissue was identified using MRI, H&E, Safranin O, and Masson staining. NCs and NP cells (NPCs) were isolated and identified based on specific cellular markers. Furthermore, mRNA-seq was performed to profile gene expression in these cells. GO annotation and KEGG pathway analysis were employed to perform functional enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. An in vitro cell degeneration model was established by treating NPCs with TBHP. Analysis of specific marker expression was performed using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. We found that the number of NCs in degenerated NP tissues was significantly reduced compared to those in normal NP tissues, but a small amount of notochordal cell markers could still be detected. Analysis of sequencing data identified 2391 upregulated and 3813 downregulated DEGs. GO enrichment analysis indicated that these DEGs were significantly associated with regulatory signals including cellular senescence and oxidative stress. KEGG pathway analysis further revealed that the DEGs were primarily enriched in the TNF and HIF-1 signaling pathways. Subsequent screening identified the top 10 key genes potentially related to IDD:

Indexed as

CATintervertebral disc degeneration (IDD)notochordal cells (NCs)nucleus pulposus (NP)SOD2transcriptomic analysis

Identifiers

PMID41614764
PMCPMC12732074

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