An Overview of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Therapies and an Evaluation of the Chondrogenic and Chemotactic Potential of CDMP-2

Intervertebral disc degeneration creates a significant healthcare burden on industrialized Western society. Recent research into treatment options has highlighted numerous biological strategies to replenish the native disc cells with minimal invasion, although their effectiveness and safety are still under intense investigation. This review provides an outline of the key biological therapies under research currently, including stem cells, biomaterial scaffolds and signaling molecules. Particularly, the focus will be on CDMP-2, a signaling molecule that has been found to possess properties that are therapeutic to disc degeneration. The review will assess the evidence of the molecule’s chondrogenic and chemotactic effects on disc cells and evaluate areas for further research in determining its regenerative potential in the intervertebral disc.