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News — Intervertebral disc degeneration is a leading cause of lower back pain and is characterized by pathological processes such as nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis, extracellular matrix imbalance, and annulus fibrosus rupture. These pathological changes result in disc height loss and functional decline, potentially leading to disc herniation. This comprehensive review aimed to address the current challenges in intervertebral disc degeneration treatment by evaluating the regenerative potential of stem cell-based therapies, with a particular focus on emerging technologies such as exosomes and gene vector systems. Through mechanisms such as differentiation, paracrine effects, and immunomodulation, stem cells facilitate extracellular matrix repair and reduce nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis. Despite recent advancements, clinical applications are hindered by challenges such as hypoxic disc environments and immune rejection. By analyzing recent preclinical and clinical findings, this review provided insights into optimizing stem cell therapy to overcome these obstacles and highlighted future directions in the field.

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Core Tip: The application of stem cell therapy in intervertebral disc degeneration has shown significant regenerative potential. Through differentiation, paracrine effects, and immunomodulation, stem cells can repair damaged extracellular matrix and slow the degenerative process. Emerging technologies such as exosomes and gene vector systems further enhance the therapeutic effects of stem cells, improving cell survival rates and regenerative capabilities. However, the long-term survival of stem cells in a hypoxic environment, the optimal injection dosage, and their long-term safety still requires further investigation. Future interdisciplinary collaboration will drive the clinical translation of stem cell therapy, making it a standard option for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.

• Citation: Li ZP, Li H, Ruan YH, Wang P, Zhu MT, Fu WP, Wang RB, Tang XD, Zhang Q, Li SL, Yin H, Li CJ, Tian YG, Han RN, Wang YB, Zhang CJ. Stem cell therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration: Clinical progress with exosomes and gene vectors. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(4): 102945
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