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Mesenchymal stem cell- (MSC-) based therapy is regarded as a promising tissue engineering strategy to achieve nucleus pulposus (NP) regeneration for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, it is still a challenge to promote the biosynthesis of MSC to meet the requirement of NP regeneration. The purpose of this study was to optimize the compressive magnitude to enhance the extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition towards discogenesis of MSCs. Thus, we constructed a 3D culture model for MSCs to bear different magnitudes of compression for 7 days (5%, 10%, and 20% at the frequency of 1.0 Hz for 8 hours/day) using an intelligent and mechanically active bioreactor. Then, the underlying mechanotransduction mechanism of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) was further explored. The MSC-encapsulated hybrids were evaluated by Live/Dead staining, biochemical content assay, real-time PCR, Western blot, histological, and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that low-magnitude compression promoted anabolic response where high-magnitude compression induced the catabolic response for the 3D-cultured MSCs. The anabolic effect of low-magnitude compression could be inhibited by inhibiting TRPV4. Meanwhile, the activation of TRPV4 enhanced the biosynthesis analogous to low-magnitude compression. These findings demonstrate that low-magnitude compression promoted the anabolic response of ECM deposition towards discogenesis for the 3D-cultured MSCs and the TRPV4 channel plays a key role on mechanical signal transduction for low-magnitude compressive loading. Further understanding of this mechanism may provide insights into the development of new therapies for MSC-based NP regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various research models have been developed to study the biology of disc cells. Recently, the adult disc nucleus pulposus (NP) has been well studied. However, the immature NP is underinvestigated due to a lack of a suitable model. This study aimed to establish an organ culture of immature porcine disc by optimizing culture conditions and using a self-developed substance exchanger-based bioreactor. Immature porcine discs were first cultured in the bioreactor for 7 days at various levels of glucose (low, medium, high), osmolarity (hypo-, iso-, hyper-) and serum (5, 10, 20%) to determine the respective optimal level. The porcine discs were then cultured under the optimized conditions in the novel bioreactor, and were compared with fresh discs at day 14. For high-glucose, iso-osmolarity, or 10% serum, cell viability, the gene expression profile (for anabolic genes and catabolic genes), and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and hydroxyproline (HYP) contents were more favorable than for other levels of glucose, osmolarity, and serum. When the immature discs were cultured under the optimized conditions using the novel bioreactor for 14 days, the viability of the immature NP was maintained based on histology, cell viability, GAG and HYP contents, and matrix molecule expression. In conclusion, the viability of the immature NP in organ culture could be maintained under the optimized culture conditions (high-glucose, iso-osmolarity, and 10% serum) in the substance exchanger-based bioreactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel is a suitable scaffold for the nucleus pulposus (NP) regeneration. However, its unmatched mechanical properties lead to implant failure in late-stage disc degeneration because of structural failure and implant extrusion after long-term compression. In this study, we evaluated an interpenetrating network (IPN)-strengthened and toughened hydrogel for NP regeneration, using dextran and gelatin as the primary network while poly (ethylene glycol) as the secondary network. The aim of this study was to realize the NP regeneration using the hydrogel. To achieve this, we optimized its properties by adjusting the mass ratios of the secondary/primary networks and determining the best preparation conditions for NP regeneration in a series of biomechanical, cytocompatibility, tissue engineering, and in vivo study. We found the optimal formulation of the IPN hydrogel, at a secondary/primary network ratio of 1:4, exhibited high toughness (the compressive strain reached 86%). The encapsulated NP cells showed increasing proliferation, cell clustering and matrix deposition. Furthermore, the hydrogel could support long-term cell retention and survival in the rat IVDs. It facilitated rehydration and regeneration of porcine degenerative NPs. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the tough IPN hydrogel could be a promising candidate for functional disc regeneration in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that mechanical load is related to structural destruction of disk annulus fibrosus (AF) either in adult disk degeneration or in child disk acute injury. Both biochemical and biomechanical properties are different between immature and mature disks. However, the effects of mechanical compression on immature AF are not fully clear. This study was to investigate the effects of a relatively wide range of dynamic compressive frequency on matrix homeostasis within the immature AF. Immature disks from pig (3-4 months) were randomly assigned into the control group (non-compression) and compression groups (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 Hz). All disks were bioreactor-cultured for 7 days. AF matrix production was evaluated by histology, gene expression, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, hydroxyproline (HYP) content and immunohistochemistry. Generally, no obvious difference was found in HE staining between control group and compression groups. However, alcian blue staining indicated proteoglycan content in the 5.0-Hz group was decreased compared with the control group and other compression groups. Similarly, a catabolic remodeling gene expression profile with the down-regulated matrix genes (aggrecan, collagen I and collagen II) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-3) and the up-regulated matrix catabolic enzymes (ADAMTS-4 and MMP-3) was found in the 5.0-Hz group. Further analysis indicated that GAG content, HYP content and aggrecan protein deposition were also decreased in the 5.0-Hz group. Hence, we concluded that matrix homeostasis within the immature AF was compressive frequency dependent, and the relatively higher frequency (5.0 Hz) is unfavorable for matrix production within the immature AF. These findings will contribute to further understanding of the relationship between mechanical compression and immature AF biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Osmolarity fluctuations are inevitable within the nucleus pulposus (NP). However, the effects of osmolarity on NP cell apoptosis within the organ-cultured disc remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of different osmolarity levels (hypo-, iso-, and hyper-) and osmolarity modes (constant and cyclic) on NP cell apoptosis in a disc perfusion culture and to study the role of the ERK1/2 pathway in this regulatory process. Porcine discs were cultured for 7 days in different osmotic medium, including constant hypo-, iso-, and hyper-osmolarity (330, 430, and 550 mOsm/L, respectively) and cyclic-osmolarity (430 mOsm/L for 8 h, followed by 550 mOsm/L for 16 h). The role of the ERK1/2 pathway was investigated by using the pharmacological inhibitor U0126. NP cell apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL staining, caspase-3 activity, gene expression of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 and protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved PARP. Our results showed that NP cell apoptosis was increased in hypo- and hyper-osmolarity cultures compared to iso- or cyclic-osmolarity culture, whereas the level of apoptosis in the iso-osmolarity culture was lower than that in the cyclic-osmolarity culture. When the ERK1/2 pathway was inhibited in the iso- and cyclic-osmolarity cultures, the level of NP cell apoptosis was significantly increased. In conclusion, the effects of osmolarity on NP cell apoptosis depend on the osmolarity level (hypo-, iso-, or hyper-) and osmolarity mode (constant or cyclic). Futhermore, inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway promotes NP cell apoptosis in this process. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:86-92, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical stimuli participate in disc development and remodelling. However, the effects of mechanical load on the immature annulus fibrosus (AF) are largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate how the immature AF responded to dynamic compressive magnitude and duration. Immature porcine discs were bioreactor-cultured for 7 days and then dynamically compressed at various magnitudes (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.3 MPa at a frequency of 1.0 Hz for 2 h/day) and durations (1, 2, 4 and 8 h/day at a magnitude of 0.4 MPa and a frequency of 1.0 Hz). Non-compressed discs were used as controls. The immature AF tissue was analysed for histology, gene expression (aggrecan, collagen I, ADAMTS-4, MMP-3, TIMP-1 and TIMP-3), biochemical content of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and hydroxyproline (HYP) and aggrecan immunohistochemical staining. In the lower-compressivemagnitude groups (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 MPa), the immature AF showed an up-regulation in the expression of matrix genes, GAG and HYP content and aggrecan deposition. In the compression duration groups, the GAG and HYP content and aggrecan deposition declined to a minimum in the 8-hour group, in which a catabolic gene expression profile was found. In conclusion, this study indicated that the effects of dynamic compression on the immature AF are magnitude and duration dependent and that catabolic remodelling within the immature AF can be induced by high compressive magnitudes and long compressive durations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cell- (MSC-) based therapy is regarded as a potential tissue engineering strategy to achieve nucleus pulposus (NP) regeneration for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, it is still a challenge to induce MSC differentiation in NP-like cells when MSCs are implanted into the NP. The purpose of this study was to construct poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles as carriers for TGF-β3 controlled release and establish a codelivery system of a dextran/gelatin hydrogel with the nanoparticles for long-term processing of discogenesis differentiation. TGF-β3-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by the double-emulsion solvent evaporation method and seeded uniformly into the hydrogel. Morphological observations, an assessment of the release kinetics of TGF-β3, a cytotoxic assay, a cell proliferation test, a biochemical content assay, qRT-PCR, and immunohistological analyses of the codelivery system were conducted in the study. The results showed that the TGF-β3-loaded nanoparticles could release TGF-β3 gradually. The codelivery system exhibited favorable cytocompatibility, and the TGF-β3 that was released could induce MSCs to NP-like cells while promoting ECM-related biosynthesis. These results suggest this codelivery system may be employed as a promising carrier for discogenesis of MSCs in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Matrix homeostasis within the nucleus pulposus (NP) is important for disc function. Unfortunately, the effects of osmolarity on NP matrix synthesis in a disc organ culture system and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study was to investigate the effects of different osmolarity modes (constant and cyclic) and osmolarity levels (hypo-, iso-, and hyper-) on NP matrix synthesis using a disc organ culture system and determine whether ERK1/2 or p38MAPK pathway has a role in this process. Porcine discs were cultured for 7 days in various osmotic media, including constant hypo-, iso-, hyper-osmolarity (330, 430, and 550 mOsm/kg, respectively) and cyclic-osmolarity (430 mOsm/kg for 8 h, followed by 550 mOsm/kg for 16 h). The role of ERK1/2 and p38MAPK pathways were determined by their inhibitors U0126 and SB202190 respectively. The expression of SOX9 and downstream aggrecan and collagen II, biochemical content, and histology were used to assess NP matrix synthesis. The findings revealed that NP matrix synthesis was promoted in iso- and cyclic-osmolarity cultures compared to hypo- or hyper-osmolarity culture although the level of matrix synthesis in cyclic-osmolarity culture did not reach that in iso-osmolarity culture. Further analysis suggested that inhibition of the ERK1/2 or p38MAPK pathway in iso- and cyclic-osmolarity cultures reduced NP matrix production. Therefore, we concluded that the effects of osmolarity on NP matrix synthesis depend on osmolarity level (hypo-, iso-, or hyper-) and osmolarity mode (constant or cyclic), and the ERK1/2 and p38MAPK pathways may participate in this process. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1092-1100, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Comparing the clinical results of improved monosegment pedicle instrumentation (iMSPI) and short-segment pedicle instrumentation (SSPI) retrospectively. Method. 63 patients with thoracolumbar incomplete burst fracture were managed with iMSPI or SSPI. 30 patients were managed with iMSPI and fusion. 33 patients were managed with SSPI and fusion. Operative time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, and complications were recorded. Percentage of anterior body height compression (ABHC%) and sagittal index (SI) were obtained preoperatively, one week postoperatively, and at the last followup. Results. The blood loss and postoperative drainage were significantly less in the iMSPI group than in SSPI group (P<0.05). The follow-up duration of the two groups was not significantly different (P>0.05). At 12 months postoperatively posterolateral fusion was obtained satisfactorily. Neither preoperative ABHC% and SI nor postoperative SI were significantly different (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference in postoperative ABHC% (P=0.000). The ABHC% and SI were not significantly different between the two groups at the last followup (P>0.05). There were no fixation failures or other complications. Summary. IMSPI yielded satisfactory results similar to those of SSPI in patients with type A3.1/3.2 thoracolumbar fractures. IMSPI is recommended for minor trauma, reducing one-segment fusion, and maximization of the remaining motor function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature senescence of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and inflammation are two common features of degenerated discs. This study investigated the effects of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α on the premature senescence of NP cells and the molecular mechanism behind this process. Rat NP cells were cultured with or without different concentrations of TNF-α for 1 and 3 days. The inhibitor LY294002 was used to determine the role of the PI3K/Akt pathway. NP cells that were incubated with TNF-α for 3 days followed by 3 days of recovery in the control medium were used to analyze cellular senescence. Results showed that TNF-α promoted premature senescence of NP cells, as indicated by decreased cell proliferation, decreased telomerase activity, increased SA-β-gal staining, the fraction of cells arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, the attenuated ability to synthesize matrix proteins and the up-regulated expression of the senescence marker p16 and p53. Moreover, a high TNF-α concentration produced greater effects than a low TNF-α concentration on day 3 of the experiment. Further analysis indicated that the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway attenuated the TNF-α-induced premature senescence of NP cells. Additionally, TNF-α-induced NP cell senescence did not recover after TNF-α was withdrawn. In conclusion, TNF-α promotes the premature senescence of NP cells, and activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteogenic protein (OP)-1 delivery into discs has achieved some success in disc regeneration in animals, though conflicting outcomes exist. This study aimed to systematically review the animal studies that assessed the effect of OP-1 on disc regeneration. Relevant literature was searched in the following databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM). Animal species, disc degeneration model, OP-1 delivery method, and follow-up methodology including disc histology, disc matrix alteration, disc height, MRI T2 signal intensity and OP-1 treatment complications were extracted and reviewed. Among 15 eligible studies, direct OP-1 protein injection into the disc was reported in 10 studies whereas cell-based or viral-based OP-1 gene transfer into the disc was reported in 5 studies. Although one study using a spontaneous canine disc degeneration model reported negative findings, all other studies (10 in rabbit, 1 in canine and 3 in rat) indicated that OP-1 delivery was effective in retarding disc degeneration and regenerating discs. The adverse effect of OP-1 delivery (i.e., extradiscal new bone formation) was reported in one study. In conclusion, OP-1 delivery offers a feasible option to biologically treat degenerated discs in animals, especially in rodent rabbit and rat models. However, more animal studies are needed to test the safety of the current OP-1 delivery means. Additionally, care should be taken when OP-1 delivery is used to treat human disc degeneration due to the differences between human and animal discs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Matrix homeostasis within the disc nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue is important for disc function. Increasing evidence indicates that sex hormone can influence the severity of disc degeneration. This study was aimed to study the role of 17β-estradiol (E2) in NP matrix synthesis and its underlying mechanism. Methods: Rat NP cells were cultured with (10-5, 10-7 and 10-9 M) or without (control) E2 for 48 hours. The estrogen receptor (ER)-βantagonist PHTPP and ERβ agonist ERB 041 were used to investigate the role mediated by ERβ. The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 was used to investigate the role of p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Gene and protein expression of SOX9, aggrecan and collagen II, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, and immunostaining assay for aggrecan and collagen II were analyzed to evaluate matrix production in rat NP cells. Results: E2 enhanced NP matrix synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner regarding gene and proetin expression of SOX9, aggrecan and collagen II, protein deposition of aggrecan and collagen II, and GAG content. Moreover, activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway was increased with elevating E2 concentration. Further analysis indicated that ERB 041 and PHTPP could respectively enhance and suppress effects of E2 on matrix synthesis in NP cells, as well as activation of p38 MAPK pathway. Additionally, inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling pathway significantly abolished the effects of E2 on matrix synthesis. Conclusion: E2 can enhance matrix synthesis of NP cells and the ERβ/p38 MAPK pathway is involved in this regulatory process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: There is an urgent but unmet need for mitigating radiation-induced intestinal toxicity while radio sensitising tumours for abdominal radiotherapy. We aimed to investigate the effects of metformin on radiation-induced intestinal toxicity and radiosensitivity of colorectal tumours.Experimental Approach: Acute and chronic histological injuries of the intestine from mice were used to assess radioprotection and IEC-6 cell line was used to investigate the mechanisms in vitro. The fractionated abdominal radiation model of HCT116 and HT29 tumour grafts was used to determine the effects on colorectal cancer.Key Results: Metformin alleviated radiation-induced acute and chronic intestinal toxicity by optimising mitophagy which was AMPK-dependent. In addition, our data indicated that metformin increased the radiosensitivity of colorectal tumours with P53 mutation both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusion and Implications: Metformin may be a radiotherapy adjuvant agent for colorectal cancers especially those carrying P53 mutation. Our findings provide a new strategy for further precise clinical trials for metformin on radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Original Article Spatially multicellular variability of intervertebral disc degeneration by comparative single‐cell analysis by Peng Lin et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/cpr.13464. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Mechanical overloading-induced nucleus pulposus (NP) apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration. N-cadherin (N-CDH)-mediated signaling preserves normal NP cell phenotype. This study aims to investigate the effects of N-CDH on NP cell apoptosis under high-magnitude compression and the underlying mechanism behind this process. Methods: Rat NP cells seeded on scaffold were perfusion-cultured using a self-developed perfusion bioreactor for 5 days and experienced different magnitudes (2% and 20% compressive deformation, respectively) of compression at a frequency of 1.0 Hz for 4 hours once per day. The un-loaded NP cells were used as controls. Lentivirus-mediated N-CDH overexpression and inhibitor LY294002 were used to further investigate the role of N-CDH and PI3K/Akt pathway under highmagnitude compression, respectively. NP cell apoptosis was evaluated by caspase-3 activity measured using a commercial kit, flow cytometry, and expression of apoptosis-related molecules analyzed by real-time PCR and western blotting assays. Results: High-magnitude compression significantly increased apoptotic NP cells, caspase-3 activity and expression of pro-apoptotic molecules (Bax and caspase-3/cleaved caspase-3), but decreased expression of anti-apoptotic molecule (Bcl-2). High-magnitude compression decreased expression of N-CDH, p-Akt and p-GSK-3β. However, N-CDH overexpression attenuated NP cell apoptosis and increased expression of p-Akt and p-GSK-3β under high-magnitude compression. Further decreased expression of p-GSK-3β, but had no significant effects on N-CDH expression under high-magnitude compression. Conclusion: N-CDH can attenuate NP cell apoptosis through activating the PI3K/Akt-GSK-3β signaling under high-magnitude compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The maintenance of nucleus pulposus (NP) viability in vitro is difficult. The annulus fibrosus (AF) pathway reflects one nutrient transport channel and may have an important effect on NP viability in disc organ cultures. The present study describes a feasible disc pre-treatment involving the AF and investigates its efficacy in improving NP bioactivity in an in vitro disc bioreactor culture.Methods: Rabbit discs that were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG) were pretreated via the surgical removal and controlled trypsinization of the outer AF. The discs in the control group (CG) did not receive any special treatment. All discs were organ-cultured in a self-developed bioreactor. Solute transport into the central NP was measured using a methylene blue solution. On days 7 and 14, histological properties, cell viability, cell membrane damage, gene expression and matrix composition within the NP in these two groups were compared with each other and with the corresponding parameters of fresh NP samples. Additionally, the structures of the outer AF and the cartilage endplate (CEP) following pre-treatment were also assessed.Results: The outer AF in the EG became disorganized, but no specific changes occurred in the CEP or the inner AF following pre-treatment. The discs in the EG exhibited increased penetration of methylene blue into the central NP. On days 7 and 14, the NP bioactivity in the EG was improved compared with that of the CG in terms of cell viability, cell membrane damage, gene expression profile and matrix synthesis. Moreover, cell viability and matrix synthesis parameters in the EG were more similar to those of fresh samples than they were to the same parameters in the CG on day 14.Conclusions: Using this disc pre-treatment, i.e., the surgical removal and controlled trypsinization of the outer AF, NP bioactivity was better maintained for up to 14 days in an in vitro disc bioreactor culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different loading regimens of cyclic tensile strain impose different effects on cell proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs in three-dimensional (3D) culture in vitro, which has been little reported in previous literatures. In this study we assessed the efficacy of TDSCs in a poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)/collagen (P(LLA-CL)/Col) scaffold under mechanical stimulation in the custom-designed 3D tensile bioreactor, which revealed that cyclic tensile strain with different frequencies (0.3 Hz, 0.5 Hz, and 1.0 Hz) and amplitudes (2%, 4%, and 8%) had no influence on TDSC viability, while it had different effects on the proliferation and the expression of type I collagen, tenascin-C, tenomodulin, and scleraxis of TDSCs, which was most obvious at 0.5 Hz frequency with the same amplitude and at 4% amplitude with the same frequency. Moreover, signaling pathway from microarray analysis revealed that reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interaction signaling initiated the tendon genius switch. Cyclic tensile strain highly upregulated genes encoding regulators of NPM1 and COPS5 transcriptional activities as well as MYC related transcriptional factors, which contributed to cell proliferation and differentiation. In particular, the transcriptome analysis provided certain new insights on the molecular and signaling networks for TDSCs loaded in these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mechanical stimulation plays an important role in the development and remodeling of tendons. Tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) are an attractive cell source for tendon injury and tendon tissue engineering. However, these cells have not yet been fully explored for tendon tissue engineering application, and there is also lack of understanding to the effect of mechanical stimulation on the maturation of TDSCs-scaffold construct for tendon tissue engineering. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of TDSCs in a poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)/collagen (P(LLA-CL)/Col) scaffold under mechanical stimulation for tendon tissue engineering both in vitro and in vivo, and evaluated the utility of the transplanted TDSCs-scaffold construct to promote rabbit patellar tendon defect regeneration. TDSCs displayed good proliferation and positive expressed tendon-related extracellular matrix (ECM) genes and proteins under mechanical stimulation in vitro. After implanting into the nude mice, the fluorescence imaging indicated that TDSCs had long-term survival, and the macroscopic evaluation, histology and immunohistochemistry examinations showed high-quality neo-tendon formation under mechanical stimulation in vivo. Furthermore, the histology, immunohistochemistry, collagen content assay and biomechanical testing data indicated that dynamically cultured TDSCs-scaffold construct could significantly contributed to tendon regeneration in a rabbit patellar tendon window defect model. TDSCs have significant potential to be used as seeded cells in the development of tissue-engineered tendons, which can be successfully fabricated through seeding of TDSCs in a P(LLA-CL)/Col scaffold followed by mechanical stimulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose To assess clinical outcomes after dynamic stabilization in discogenic low back pain. Methods From April 2012 to January 2015, 23 patients with discogenic low back pain were treated with dynamic stabilization via the Wiltse approach. Main clinical assessments included visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and complications. Radiographs were evaluated for lumbar range of motion and intervertebral height. The Woodend classification was determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Results There were 23 cases evaluated with a mean follow-up time of 39 months. At last follow-up, visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores improved significantly compared with preoperatively ( P < 0.05). At the stabilized segments, the height of intervertebral discs was increased significantly after surgery ( P < 0.05). At last follow-up, the height was reduced to the preoperative level. At the operated segment, 47.4% of the flexion/extension range of motion was retained. Six discs showed rehydration with 1 grade improvement on the Woodend classification. Conclusions Dynamic stabilization was a safe and effective treatment in carefully selected groups of patients with discogenic low back pain and promoted disc regeneration to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]