Level D· Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studiesNarrative ReviewEurope PMCOpen access

Current Perspective on Orthobiology Applications for the Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD)-A Narrative Review

Conza G., Trotta MC., Mastronardi C., Nocera A., Itro A., Martin G.

Narrative Review on Back Pain, Disc Degeneration, Chronic Inflammation, Immune Modulation, published in Medicina (Kaunas) (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

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Level D· Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studiesEvidence level of this study

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

  • Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
  • Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
  • Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
  • Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
  • Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
Read the A–D evidence level guide

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Narrative Review
Journal
Medicina (Kaunas) (2026)
Reported sample size
—
Source database
Europe PMC
PMID
42075629
PMCID
PMC13117772
DOI
10.3390/medicina62040758

Abstract (original English)

Background and Objectives : Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is frequently associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Current therapeutic strategies are primarily symptomatic and do not restore native disc biology, largely due to the avascular nature of the intervertebral disc and the hostile inflammatory and mechanical microenvironment that characterizes degeneration. The aim of this study is to provide an updated and clinically oriented overview of the pathophysiology of IVDD and to evaluate the current evidence on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)-based therapies. Materials and Methods : A focused narrative literature review was performed to evaluate current evidence on MSC- and PRP-based therapies for intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). The search was conducted in PubMed. Only studies in English were considered eligible. Results : Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) demonstrated regenerative and immunomodulatory effects primarily through paracrine mechanisms, enhancing extracellular matrix synthesis and reducing inflammation and apoptosis. MSC-derived extracellular vesicles emerged as a promising cell-free alternative, potentially overcoming limitations related to cell survival and safety. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) showed anabolic and anti-inflammatory properties, promoting disc cell proliferation an

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
  • • This is a narrative review: it collects no new patient data and does not systematically appraise evidence quality.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

How we grade evidence
Mesenchymal Stem CellsHumansLow Back PainMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationPlatelet-Rich PlasmaIntervertebral Disc Degeneration

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