ADVANCEMENTS IN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DEGENERATION AND DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Intervertebral disc degenerative diseases have been increasingly explored, focusing on the balance of synthesis and catabolism, extracellular matrix, growth factors, and inflammatory factors as the underlying causes. Researchers have sought to address these conditions through molecular therapy, cell therapy, and gene therapy. While molecular therapy targets the regulation of growth factors and reduction of inflammatory factors, cell therapy involves the transplantation of exogenous cells and autologous nucleus pulposus cells. Gene therapy, on the other hand, is focused on the inhibition of inflammatory factors through exogenous growth factors. However, these biotherapies face challenges due to the incomplete understanding of disc degeneration's pathogenesis. Advancements in biological therapy depend on further elucidating the mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration, making it a crucial area for research exploration. In this study, we conduct a bibliometric analysis to assess the current status and trends in intervertebral disc degeneration research, with a particular focus on nucleus pulposus cells and inflammatory responses. The aim is to identify promising keywords and research directions in this field.