Molecular Mechanisms of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Regeneration

Dear Colleagues,

Intervertebral discs play a critical role in the biomechanical function of the spine. Lumbar disc degeneration is a known contributor to low back pain and can induce structural changes associated with degenerative lumbar disorders. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of disc degeneration is therefore essential for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies. Recent years have seen vigorous growth in both basic and clinical research on disc regenerative therapy. Advances in this field hold promise for enhancing the precision and reducing the invasiveness of spinal surgeries. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews addressing a broad spectrum of themes, including the following:

1. Basic research (genetic, molecular, biochemical, and biomechanical analyses) on disc degeneration;
2. Regenerative treatments for intervertebral discs;
3. Translational applications for next-generation spinal surgery.

Submissions should contribute to basic knowledge, regenerative approaches, or future surgical innovations targeting disc pathology.

Dr. Koji Akeda
Prof. Dr. Nobuyuki Fujita
Dr. Akira Shinohara
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Issues in Molecular Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.