Cellular and Molecular Events in Intervertebral Disc Development, Homeostasis and Disease

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 42

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Orthopedic Research and Biomechanics, Ulm University Clinic, Ulm, Germany
Interests: intervertebral disc; pathomechanisms of degeneration and regeneration; immune response; tissue engineering; biomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The healthy intervertebral disc (IVD) is an aneural, avascular, and immune-privileged fibrocartilaginous structure. It presents regionally distinct phenotypes with a unique microenvironment and cellular composition. Despite a characteristically poor cell density, each cell type is crucial for maintaining the specific extracellular microenvironment and plays a vital role in ensuring the functional and structural integrity of the IVD. However, the cellular and molecular characteristics of the IVD are critically influenced by various factors such as age, genetic, metabolic, and mechanical factors, which can significantly affect IVD development, homeostasis, and disease. 

This Special Issue is dedicated to interesting and innovative research on “Cellular and Molecular Events in Intervertebral Disc Development, Homeostasis, and Disease”. Further, it includes novel approaches in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering strategies for IVD tissue repair/regeneration. In this Special Issue, we welcome original research including basic and translational research and reviews, but not clinical trials or case reports, covering subjects related, but not limited, to the following:

  • Aging;
  • Biomarkers of IVD disease;
  • Cell signaling;
  • Crosstalk;
  • Extracellular matrix metabolism;
  • Fibrosis;
  • Immune response;
  • In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models;
  • Inflammation mediators; 
  • IVD repair/regeneration;
  • Microbiome;
  • Omics; 
  • Pathobiology of discogenic pain; 
  • Stem cells;
  • Trauma. 

Dr. Graciosa Teixeira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • disc development
  • healthy intervertebral disc
  • IVD

Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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