Emerging technologies for molecular therapy for intervertebral disk degeneration.

Intervertebral disks are biologically regulated by the maintenance of a balance between the anabolic and catabolic activities of disk cells. Therapeutic agents, initially evaluated using in vitro studies on disk cells and explants, have been used as intradiscal injections in preclinical settings to test in vivo efficacy. These include anabolic growth factors, other biostimulatory agents, and antagonistic agents against matrix-degrading enzymes and cytokines. Additional work is needed to identify patient populations, using methods such as MRI, and to better understand the mechanism of healing. Clinical trials are underway for a few of these agents and other promising candidates are on the horizon.