Review of Basic Research About Ossification of the Spinal Ligaments Focusing on Animal Models

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 Mar 11

PMID 36902744

Authors

Masato Ikuta

Takashi Kaito

Takahito Fujimori

Takayuki Kitahara

Takuya Furuichi

Masayuki Bun

Hiromasa Hirai

Yuichiro Ukon

Yuya Kanie

Shota Takenaka

Seiji Okada

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a heterotopic ossification that may cause spinal cord compression. With the recent development of computed tomography (CT) imaging, it is known that patients with OPLL often have complications related to ossification of other spinal ligaments, and OPLL is now considered part of ossification of the spinal ligaments (OSL). OSL is known to be a multifactorial disease with associated genetic and environmental factors, but its pathophysiology has not been clearly elucidated. To elucidate the pathophysiology of OSL and develop novel therapeutic strategies, clinically relevant and validated animal models are needed. In this review, we focus on animal models that have been reported to date and discuss their pathophysiology and clinical relevance. The purpose of this review is to summarize the usefulness and problems of existing animal models and to help further the development of basic research on OSL.

Citing Articles

The Hedgehog-GLI1 Pathway Regulates Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Cervical Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Cells by BMP Signalling Pathway.

Xu W, Ran B, Aizawa T, Liu W, Zhao J, Niu R J Cell Mol Med. 2025; 29(3):e70393.

PMID: 39910703 PMC: 11798735. DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.70393.

Cervical Open-Door Laminoplasty for Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Correlation Between Spinal Canal Expansion and Clinical Outcomes.

Ko Y, Kim Y, Barraza J, Ko M, Bang C, Hwang B J Clin Med. 2024; 13(22).

PMID: 39598048 PMC: 11595153. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13226904.

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