Ligamentum Flavum Fibrosis and Hypertrophy
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 2250
Special Issue Editors
Interests: autophagy; aging; senescence; intervertebral disc; molecular biology; inflammation; immunometabolism
2. McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
Interests: intervertebral disc; ligamentum flavum; tissue engineering; molecular biology; aging; pre-clinical models
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum (HLF) is a common contributor to lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) associated with low back pain. To date, there are no effective therapies for the prevention or treatment of HLF-related LSS. Laminectomies, i.e., surgical removal of the HLF, are among the most common procedures for relief of low back pain in patients over the age of 65. As the name suggests, fibrosis is a core pathological factor driving HLF; however, the mechanisms that promote HLF remain to be defined. The TGFb signaling pathway has long been implicated in the process of fibrosis, but there is now evidence that other cytokines and signaling pathways are also prominent contributors, including IL6, mitochondrial function, and ROS, as well as non-coding RNAs, among others. In addition, while chronic mechanical instability has long been considered a primary cause of HLF, the contributions of aging, genetics, environment, and systemic conditions are likely to play important roles in the disease.
Today, there are a wide array of exciting molecular, cellular, and clinical diagnostic tools that are being applied to elucidate the etiology and pathophysiology of HLF. The forthcoming Special Issue on ligamentum flavum fibrosis and hypertrophy aims to provide a platform for researchers to contribute to and update the growing body of molecular, cellular, and clinical knowledge of this long understudied but common clinical condition. Therefore, submissions of literature reviews and original research articles covering studies related to any molecular, cellular, or clinical aspect of LF development, function, or disease (hypertrophy) are welcome, as are studies on therapy and cutting-edge clinical characterization and epidemiology.
Dr. Prashanta Silwal
Dr. Peter G. Alexander
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- lumbar spinal stenosis
- ligamentum flavum hypertophy
- fibrosus
- stem cells
- cell signaling
- immunoregulation
- aging and senescence
- magnetic resonance imaging
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