ReviewBioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)2026
From Bench to Bedside: Translational Barriers in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.
Review in Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Degenerative disc disease is a leading cause of chronic low back pain and disability worldwide, and current treatments primarily address symptoms rather than the underlying biological degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising regenerative approach due to their capacity for differentiation, immunomodulation, and secretion of bioactive factors that promote tissue repair. This review summarises findings from experimental and clinical studies investigating the therapeutic potential of MSC-based therapies for intervertebral disc regeneration, with particular focus on translational challenges that limit their clinical application. Preclinical studies generally show that MSC implantation can enhance extracellular matrix production, improve disc hydration, and modulate inflammatory processes within degenerated discs. Early clinical trials report improvements in pain and functional outcomes; however, consistent structural regeneration has not been reliably demonstrated. The limited clinical translation of MSC therapy is associated with several key challenges, including poor cell survival in the harsh disc microenvironment, variability in cell sources and manufacturing protocols, inadequate cell retention following intradiscal injection, and a lack of standardised outcome measures. In addition, regulatory and manufacturing barriers further complicate the development of reproducible and scalable MSC-based therapies. Although MSC-based therapies represent a promising strategy for the biological treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration, further research is required to improve cell survival, optimise delivery systems, standardise manufacturing procedures, and conduct large-scale controlled clinical trials to establish long-term safety and efficacy. Addressing these translational barriers will be essential for the successful integration of MSC-based therapies into clinical practice.
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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.