The transcription factors regulating intervertebral disc development.

Damage to the intervertebral discs (IVDs) occurs due to aging or excessive mechanical stress, causing a series of IVD-related degenerative diseases, such as spinal disc herniation and spondylosis. These IVD-related diseases are difficult to cure, partially because the regeneration ability of IVDs is not sufficient. As a novel strategy for treatment of IVD-related diseases, mesenchymal stem cell transplantation to the damaged discs has been reported in animal studies. To further develop and improve this approach, it is necessary to gain a better understanding of the molecular network regulating IVD development by critical transcription factors. Recent findings reveal that during IVD development, nucleus pulposus and annuls fibrosus differentiation is coordinated by a series of transcription factors, such as Mkx , Pax1 , 9 , Shh , Foxa1, 2 , T-Brachyury , and Sox5, 6, 9 . The combination of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation with the regulation of these molecules may provide a novel strategy for treatment of degenerative disc diseases.