Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Cazzanelli O, Lamoca M, Hasler H, Hausmann ON, Mesfin A, Puvanesarajah V, Hitzl W, Wuertz-Kozak K The role of miR-155-5p in inflammation and mechanical loading during intervertebral disc degeneration. Cell CommunSignal 2024; 22: 419.
Bermudez-Lekerika P, Crump KB, Wuertz-Kozak K, Le Maitre CL, Gantenbein B Sulfated hydrogels as primary intervertebral disc cell culture systems. Gels 2024, 10(5), 330
Bjorgvinsdottir O, Ferguson S, Gudjonsson T, Snorradottir B, Wuertz-Kozak K The Influence of Physical and Spatial Substrate Characteristics on Endothelial Cells. Materials Today Bio 2024, 26: 101060
Cazzanelli P, Lamoca M, Hausmann ON, Mesfin A, Puvanesarajah V, Hitzl W, Haglund L, Wuertz-Kozak K Exploring the Impact of TLR-2 Signaling on miRNA Dysregulation in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Advanced Biology 2024, 28:e2300581
Ceballos-Santa MC, Sierra A; Zalbidea IK, Lazarus E, Marin-Montealegre V, Ramesh S, Iglesias P, Wuertz-Kozak K, Rivero IV Aloe vera-based Biomaterial Ink for 3D Bioprinting of Wound Dressing Constructs. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials 2024, 112(2), e3579
Bitterli T, Schmid D, Ettinger L, Krupkova O, Bach FC, Tryfonidou MA, Meij BP, Pozzi P, Steffen F, Wuertz‐Kozak K, Smolders LA Targeted screening of inflammatory mediators in spontaneous degenerative disc disease in dogs reveals an upregulation of the tumor necrosis superfamily. JOR Spine 2024, 7 (1) e1292
Schoeller J, Wuertz-Kozak K, Ferguson SJ, Rottmar M, Elbs-Glatz Y, Avaro J, Chung M, Rossi RM Ibuprofen-loaded electrospun poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) nanofibers for wound dressing applications. Nanoscale Advances 2023, 5 (8) 2261-2270
Sarles S, Lazarus E, Widom L, Wuertz-Kozak K, Rivero, IV Hydrogel Composite Layering Process for Full Thickness Skin Models. IIE Annual Conference. Proceedings 2022; 1-7.
Houtenbos SP, Kuehl LK, Wuertz-Kozak K, Wippert PM Depressive symptoms as potential mediator between physical activity and bone health – a scoping review. Osteology 2022, 2(4), 166-183
Stosch-Wiechert K, Wuertz-Kozak K, Hitzl W, Szeimies U, Staebler, A, Siepe CJ Clinical and radiological mid- to long-term investigation of anterior lumbar stand-alone fusion: Incidence of reoperation and adjacent segment degeneration. Brain and Spine 2022, 2:100924
Bermudez-Lekerika P, Crump KB, Tseranidou S, Nüesch A, Kanelis E, Alminnawi A, Baumgartner L, Muñoz-Moya E, Boixader Compte R, Gualdi F, Alexopoulos LG, Geris L, Wuertz-Kozak K, Le Maitre CL, Noailly J, Gantenbein B Immuno-Modulatory Effects of Intervertebral Disc Cells. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biolog 2022, 10:924692
De Pieri A, Occur K, Jerreld K, Lamoca M, Hitzl W, Wuertz-Kozak K Resveratrol Microencapsulation into Electrosprayed Polymeric Carriers for the Treatment of Chronic, Non-Healing Wounds. Pharmaceutics 2022, April 13: 14(4):853
Riemann M, Juengel A, Mousavi S, Moeschlin N, Calcagni M, Wuertz-Kozak K, Brunner F, Dudli S, Distler O, Adlhart C Acrylonitrile and Pullulan Based Nanofiber Mats as Easily Accessible Scaffolds for 3D Skin Cell Models Containing Primary Cells. Cells 2022, 11(3), 445
Lazarus E, Bermudez-Lekerika P, Farchione D, Schofield T, Howard S, Mambet-kadyrov I, Lamoca M, Rivero IV, Gantenbein B, Lewis CL, Wuertz-Kozak K Sulfated Hydrogels in Intervertebral Disc and Cartilage Research. Cells 2021, Dec 17;10(12):3568
Baumgartner L, Sadowska A, Tío L, Gonzalez Ballester MA, Wuertz-Kozak K, Noailly J Evidence-based Network Modelling to Simulate Nucleus Pulposus Multicellular Activity in different Nutritional and pro-Inflammatory Environments. Frontiers Bioengineering 2021, Nov 10;9:734258.
Schoeller J, Itel, F., Wuertz-Kozak K, Gaiser S, Luisier N, Hegemann D, Ferguson SJ, Fortunato G, Rossi R pH-Responsive Chitosan/Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complexes on Electrospun PLGA Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 1850
Schoeller J, Itel, F., Wuertz-Kozak K, Fortunato G, Rossi R pH-responsive electrospun nanofibers and their applications. Polymer Reviews 2021, AHEAD-OF-PRINT, 1-49
Cambria E, Heusser S, Scheuren A, Karol AA, Tam WK, Hitzl W, Leung V, Mueller R, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, TRPV4 mediates cell damage induced by hyperphysiological compression and regulates COX2/PGE2 in intervertebral discs. JOR Spine 2021, epub ahead
He Y, Wuertz-Kozak K, Kuehl LK, Wippert P-M. Extracellular vesicles: potential mediators of psychosocial stress contribution to osteoporosis?. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5846
De Pieri A, Korman B, Juengel A, Wuertz-Kozak K, Engineering advanced in vitro models of systemic sclerosis for drug discovery and development Advanced Biology 2021, epub ahead 15 February 2021
Baumgartner L, Wuertz-Kozak K, Le Maitre C, Wignall F, Richardson SM, Hoyland J, Wills CR, Ballester MAG, Neidlin M, Alexopouplos LG, Noailly J Multiscale regulation of the intervertebral disc: achievements in experimental, in silico and regenerative research Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2021, 22, 703
Herold T, Kothe R, Siepe CJ, Heese O, Hitzl W, Korge A, Wuertz-Kozak K. Effect of BMI on the clinical outcome following microsurgical decompression in over-the-top technique: Bi-centric study with an analysis of 744 patients. Eur Spine J. 2021 Feb 27.
Wangler S, Kamali A, Wapp C; Wuertz-Kozak K, Häckel S, Fortes C, Benneker LM, Haglund L, Richards GR, Alini M, Peroglio M, Grad S. Uncovering the secretome of mesenchymal stromal cells exposed to healthy, traumatic and degenerative intervertebral discs: A proteomic analysis. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2021, 12 (1), 11
Wangler S, Kamali A, Wapp C; Wuertz-Kozak K, Häckel S, Fortes C, Benneker LM, Haglund L, Richards GR, Alini M, Peroglio M, Grad S. Uncovering the secretome of mesenchymal stromal cells exposed to healthy, traumatic and degenerative intervertebral discs: A proteomic analysis. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2020.
Schmidli RM, Sadowska A, Cvitas I, Gantenbein B, Lischer HE, Forterre S, Hitzl W, Forterre F, Wuertz-Kozak K. Fibronectin Fragments and Inflammation during Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2020, epub ahead
Wuertz-Kozak K, Roszkowski M, Cambria E, Block A, Kuhn GA, Abele T, Hitzl W, Drießlein D, Müller R, Rapp MA, Mansuy IM, Peters EMJ, Wippert PM. Effects of early life stress on bone homeostasis in mice and humans. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 10;21(18):E6634.
De Pieri A, Byerley AM, Musumeci CR, Salemizadehparizi F, Vanderhorst MA, Wuertz-Kozak K. Electrospinning and 3D bioprinting for intervertebral disc tissue engineering. 2020, epub ehead.
Cambria E, Arlt MJE, Wandel S, Krupkova O, Hitzl W, Passini FS, Haumann ON, Snedeker JG, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K. TRPV4 inhibition and CRISPR-Cas9 knockout reduce inflammation induced by hyper-physiological stretching in human annulus fibrosus cells. Cells 2020, 9, 1736
Schmid B, Hausmann ON, Hitzl W, Achermann Y, Wuertz-Kozak K. The role of Cutibacterium acnes in intervertebral disc inflammation. Biomedicines 2020 Jun 30;8(7):E186
Tai YK, Ng C, Purnamawati K, Yap JLY, Yin JN, Wong C, Patel BK, Soong PL, Pelczar P, röhlich J, Beyer C, Fong CHH, Ramanan S, Casarosa M, Cerrato CP, Foo ZL, Selvan RMP, Grishina E, Degirmenci U, Toh SJ, Richards PJ, Mirsaidi A, Wuertz-Kozak K, Chong SY, Ferguson SJ, Aguzzi A, Monici M, Sun L, Drum CL, Wang J-W, Franco-Obregón A. Magnetic fields modulate metabolism and gut microbiome in correlation with Pgc-1α expression: Follow-up to an in vitro magnetic mitohormetic study. FASEB J. 2020,Jul 6. doi: 10.1096/fj.201903005RR. epub ahead
Sadowska A, Altinay B, Hitzl W, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozk K. Hypo-osmotic loading induces expression of IL-6 in nucleus pulposus cells of the intervertebral disc independent of TRPV4 and TRPM7. Front Pharmacology. 2020 Jul 1;11:952.
Cazzanelli P, Wuertz-Kozak K. MicroRNAs in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Apoptosis, Inflammation, and Mechanobiology. .Int J Mol Sci. 2020 May 20;21(10):E3601. doi: 10.3390/ijms21103601. PMID: 32443722 Review.
Cambria E, Brunner S, Heusser S, Fisch P, Hitzl W, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K. Cell-Laden Agarose-Collagen Composite Hydrogels for Mechanotransduction Studies. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 Apr 21;8:346. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00346. eCollection 2020.PMID: 32373605
Piazza N, Dehghani M, Gaborski TR, Wuertz-Kozak K. Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular Vesicles in Degenerative Diseases of the Intervertebral Disc. .Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 Apr 17;8:311. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00311. eCollection 2020.PMID: 32363187
Krupkova O, Greutert H, Boos N, Lemcke J, Liebscher T, & Wuertz-Kozak K. Expression and activity of hyaluronidases HYAL-1, HYAL-2 and HYAL-3 in the human intervertebral disc. European Spine Journal. 2019 epub ahead
Sadowska A, Hitzl W, Karol A, Jaszczuk P, Cherif H, Haglund L, Hausmann ON, Wuertz-Kozak K. Differential regulation of TRP channel gene and protein expression by intervertebral disc degeneration and back pain. Scientific Reports, 2019, 9(1).
Wippert P M, Block A, Mansuy I M, Peters E M J, Rose M, Rapp M A, Huppertz A, Wuertz-Kozak K, Alterations in bone homeostasis and microstructure related to depression and allostatic load, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2019 88(6) 383-385
Loepfe M, Duss A, Zafeiropoulou K A, Björgvinsdóttir O, D'Este M, Eglin D, Fortunato G, Klasen J, Ferguson S J, Wuertz-Kozak K, Krupkova O, Electrospray-based microencapsulation of epigallocatechin 3-gallate for local delivery into the intervertebral disc, Pharmaceutics, 2019 Sept, 11 (9) 435
Santschi M, Vernengo A, Eglin D, D’Este M, Wuertz-Kozak K, Decellularized matrix as a building block in bioprinting and electrospinning, Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 2019 May 28, epub ahead
Pehlivanoglu T, Wuertz-Kozak K, Heider F, Hitzl W, Sauer D, Wanke-Jellinek L, Mayer M, , Mehren C, Clinical and radiographic outcome of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy undergoing total disc replacement, Spine, 2019 Oct 15, 44 (20) 1403-1411
Mehren C, Wuertz-Kozak K, Sauer M, Hitzl W, Pehlivanoglu T, Heider F, Implant design and the anchoring mechanism influence the incidence of heterotropic ossification in cervical total disc replacement at 2-year follow-up, Spine, 2019 Nov 1;44 (21): 1471-1480
Kameda T, Zvick J, Vuk M, Sadowska A, Tam WK, Leung V, Bölcskei K, Helyes Z, Applegate LA, Hausmann O, Klasen J, Krupkova O, Wuertz-Kozak K, Expression and activity of TRPA1 and TRPV1 in the intervertebral disc: association with inflammation and matrix remodeling, Int J Mol Sci, 2019 Apr 10;20(7)
Mouser VHM, Arkesteijn ITM, van Dijk BGM, Wuertz-Kozak K, Ito K, Hypotonicity differentially affects inflammatory marker production by nucleus pulposus tissue in simulated disc degeneration versus herniation, J Orthop Res, 2019 May;37(5):1110-1116
Loibl M, Wuertz-Kozak K, Vadala G, Fairbanks J, Lang S, Urban J, Controversies in Regenerative Medicine: Should intervertebral disc degeneration be treated with mesenchymal stem cells?, Journal of Orthopedic Research Spine, 2019 e1043
Egan P, Wang X, Greutert H, Shea K, Wuertz-Kozak K, Ferguson SJ, Mechanical and biological characterization of 3D printed lattices, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Journal, 2019 6 (2) 73-81
Wuertz-Kozak K, Bleisch D, Nadi N, Prömmel P, Hitzl W, Kessler T, Gautschi O, Hausmann ON, Sexual and urinary function following anterior lumbar surgery in females, Neurourology and Urodynamics, 2019 Feb, 38 (2) 632-636
Mehren C, Heider F, Hitzl W, Sauer D, Korge A, Kothe R, Wuertz-Kozak K, Clinical and Radiological Outcome of a new Total Cervical Disc Replacement Design, Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 25 February 2019; 44 (4) 202-2010
Krupkova O, Sadowska A, Kameda T, Hausmann O, Klasen J, Wuertz-Kozak K, p38 MAPK facilitates crosstalk between endoplasmic reticulum stress and IL-6 release in the intervertebral disc, Frontiers in Immunology, 17 August 2018 Aug 17;9:1706
Randall M, Riemann M, Jüngel A, Wuertz-Kozak K, Advances in the Biofabrication of 3D Skin in vitro: Healthy and Pathological Models, Frontiers Bioengineering, 2018; 6: 154
Franco-Obregón A, Cambria E, Greutert H, Wernas T, Egli M, Sekiguchi M, Boos N, Hausmann ON, Ferguson SJ, Kobayashi H, Wuertz-Kozak K, TRPC6 in simulated microgravity of intervertebral disc cells, Eur Spine J. 2018 Oct;27(10):2621-2630
Sadowska A, Kameda T, Krupkova O, Wuertz-Kozak K, Osmosensing, osmosignaling and inflammation: How intervertebral disc cells respond to altered osmolarity, European Cells and Materials, 2018 Nov; 36: 231-250
Krupkova O, Smolders L, Wuertz-Kozak K, Cook JL, Pozzi A, The pathobiology of the meniscus: a comparison between the human and dog, Frontiers Veterinary Science, 2018 Apr 16;5:73
Krupkova, E. Cambia, L. Besse, A. Besse, R. Bowles, K. Wuertz-Kozak, The Potential of CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing for the Study and Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Pathologies, JOR Spine, 2018, 1 (1), e1003
Sadowska, O. Hausmann, K. Wuertz-Kozak, Inflammaging in the intervertebral disc, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, 2018, 2 (1)
Sadowska A, Touli E, Hitzl W, Greutert H, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, Hausmann ON, Inflammaging in cervical and lumbar degenerated intervertebral discs: Analysis of proinflammatory cytokine and TRP channel expression, Eur Spine J. 2018 Mar;27(3):564-577
Monchaux M, Forterre S, Spreng D, Karol A, Forterre F, Wuertz-Kozak K, Inflammatory processes associated with canine intervertebral disc herniation, Frontiers in Immunology, 2017 Dec 4;8:1681 (eCollection 2017)
Wu Y, Stoddart MJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, Grad S, Alini M, Ferguson SJ, Hyaluronan supplementation as a mechanical regulator of cartilage tissue development under joint-kinematic-mimicking loading, J R Soc Interface, 2017 Aug;14(133)
Kang MS, Lim HS, Oh JS, Lim YJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, Harro JM, Shirtliff ME, Achermann Y, Antimicrobial activity of Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus fermentum against Staphylococcus aureus., Pathog Dis., 2017 Mar 1;75(2)
Krupkova O, Zvick J, Wuertz-Kozak K, The role of TRP channels in joint diseases, Eur Cell Mater, 2017 Oct 10;34:180-201
Wippert PM, Rector M, Kuhn G, Wuertz-Kozak K, Stress and Alterations in Bones: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2017 May 1;8:96
Krupkova O, Hlavna M, Tahmasseb JA, Zvick J. Kunz D, Ito K, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, An Inflammatory Nucleus Pulposus Tissue Culture Model to Test Molecular Regenerative Therapies: Validation with Epigallocatechin 3-Gallate, Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2016, 17(10), 1640
Krupkova O, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, Stability of (-) epigallocatechin gallate and its activity in liquid formulations and delivery systems, J Nutr Biochem, 2016, Nov 37, 1-12
Krupkova O, Handa J, Hlavna M, Klasen J, Ospelt C, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, The natural polyphenol epigallocatechin 3-gallate protects intervertebral disc cells from oxidative stress, Oxid Med Cell Longev., 2016;2016:7031397
Spaas JH, Broeckx SY, Chiers K, Ferguson SJ, Casarosa M, Van Bruaene N, Forsyth R, Duchateau L, Franco-Obregón A, Wuertz K, Chondrogenic priming at reduced cell density enhances cartilage adhesion of equine allogeneic MSCs - a loading sensitive phenomenon in an organ culture study with 180 explants, Cell Phys Biochem, 2015 Sep 8;37(2):651-665
Kurth F, Franco-Obregón A, Casarosa M, Küster SK, Wuertz-Kozak K, Dittrich PS, TRPV2-mediated shear-stress responses in C2C12 myoblasts are regulated by serum and extracellular matrix, FASEB J, 2015 Jul 23 pii: fj.15-275396
Gantenbein B, Calandriello E, Wuertz-Kozak K, Benneker LM, Keel, MJ, Chan SCW, Activation of intervertebral disc cells by co-culture with notochordal cells, conditioned medium and hypoxia., BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2014 Dec 11;15(1):422
Krupkova O, Sekiguchi M, Klasen J, Hausmann O, Konno S, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz-Kozak K, Epigallocatechin 3-gallate supresses interleukin-1β-induced inflammatory responses in intervertebral disc cells in vitro and reduces radiculopathic pain in rats., Eur Cell Material, 2014 Nov 25;28:372-86
Broeckx S, Suls M, Beerts C, Vandenberghe A, Seys B, Wuertz-Kozak K, Duchateau L, Spaas JH, Allogenic mesenchymal stem cells as a treatment for equine degenerative joint disease: a pilot study., Curr Stem Cell Res Ther, 2014 ;9(6):497-503
Klawitter M, Hakozaki M, Kobayashi H, Quero L, Krupkova O, Ospelt C, Gay S, Hausmann O, Liebscher T, Meier U, Sekiguchi M, Konno S, Boos N, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz K, Expression and regulation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in human intervertebral disc cells., Eur Spine Journal, 2014 Sep;23(9):1878-91
Broeckx S, Zimmerman M, Crocetti S, Suls M, Mariën T, Ferguson SJ, Chiers K, Duchateau L, Franco-Obregón A, Wuertz K, Spaas JH, Regenerative therapies for equine degenerative joint disease: a preliminary study., PLoS One. 2014 Jan 20;9(1):e85917
Quero L, Klawitter M, Schmaus A, Rothley M, Sleeman J, Tiaden NA, Klasen J, Boos N, Hottiger MO, Wuertz K, Richards JP, Hyaluronic acid fragments enhance the inflammatory and catabolic response in human intervertebral disc cells through modulation of toll-like receptor 2 signaling pathways., Arthritis Res Ther, 2013 Aug 22;15(4):R94
Wuertz K, Haglund L, Inflammatory mediators in intervertebral disc degeneration and discogenic pain., Global Spine Journal, 2013 June 15;3:175-184
Klawitter M, Quero L, Klasen J, Gloess AN, Klopprogge B, Nerlich A, Hausmann O, Boos N, Wuertz K, Curcuma DMSO extracts and curcumin exhibit an anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic effect on human intervertebral disc cells, possibly by influencing TLR2 expression and JNK activity., J of Inflammation, 2012 Aug 21;9(1):29
Tiaden A, Klawitter M, Mirsaidi A, Bahrenberg G, Glanz S, Quero L, Liebscher T, Wuertz K, Ehrmann M, Richards PJ, Detrimental role for human high temperature requirement serine protease A1 (HTRA1) in the pathogenesis of intervertebral (IVD) degeneration, J Biol Chem. 2012 J Jun 15;287(25):21335-45
Weiler C, Schietzsch M, Kirchner T, Nerlich AG, Boos N, Wuertz K, Age-related changes in human cervical, thoracal and lumbar intervertebral disc exhibit a strong intra-individual correlation., Eur Spine J. 2012 Aug;21 Suppl 6:S810-8
Klawitter M, Quero L, Klasen J, Liebscher T, Nerlich A, Boos N, Wuertz K, Triptolide exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic as well as anabolic effects and suppresses TLR expression and MAPK activity in IL-1β treated human intervertebral disc cells., Eur Spine J. 2012 Aug;21 Suppl 6:S850-9
Wuertz K, Vo N, Kletsas D, Boos N, Inflammatory and catabolic signalling in intervertebral discs: The roles of NF-kB and MAP Kinases., Eur Cell Mater, 2012 Feb 16;23:103-20
Weiler C, Lopez-Ramos M, Mayer HM, Korge A, Siepe CJ, Wuertz K, Weiler V, Boos N, Nerlich AG, Histological analysis of surgical lumbar intervertebral disc tissue provides evidence for an association between disc degeneration and increased body mass index, BMC Res Notes. 2011 Nov 16;4(1):497
Klawitter M, Quero L, Bertolo A, Mehr M, Stoyanov J, Nerlich AG, Klasen J, Aebli N, Boos N, Wuertz K, Human MMP28 expression is unresponsive to inflammatory stimuli and does not correlate to the grade of intervertebral disc degeneration., J Negat Results Biomed. 2011 Jul 29;10:9
Franscini N, Wuertz K, Patocchi-Tenzer I, Durner R, Boos N, Graf-Hausner U, Development of a novel automated cell isolation, expansion, and characterization platform., J Lab Autom. 2011 Jun;16(3):204-13
Wuertz K, Quero L, Sekiguchi M, Klawitter M, Nerlich A, Konno S, Kikuchi S, Boos N, The red wine polyphenol resveratrol shows promising potential for the treatment of nucleus pulposus-mediated pain in vitro and in vivo., Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Oct 1;36(21):E1373-84
Chan SC, Ferguson SJ, Wuertz K, Gantenbein-Ritter B, Biological response of the intervertebral disc to repetitive short-term cyclic torsion., Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Nov 15;36(24):2021-30
Quero L, Klawitter M, Nerlich AG, Leonardi M, Boos N, Wuertz K, Bupivacaine--the deadly friend of intervertebral disc cells?, Spine J. 2011 Jan;11(1):46-53
latridis JC, Godburn K, Wuertz K, Alini M, Roughley PJ, Region-dependent aggrecan degradation patterns in the rat intervertebral disc are affected by mechanical loading in vivo., Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Feb 1;36(3):203-9
Liebscher T, Haefeli M, Wuertz K, Nerlich AG, Boos N, Age-related variation in cell density of human lumbar intervertebral disc., Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Jan 15;36(2):153-9
Weiler C, Nerlich AG, Schaaf R, Bachmeier BE, Wuertz K, Boos N, Immunohistochemical identification of notochordal markers in cells in the aging human lumbar intervertebral disc., Eur Spine J. 2010 Oct;19(10):1761-70
Bachmeier BE, Nerlich A, Mittermaier N, Weiler C, Lumenta C, Wuertz K, Boos N, Matrix metalloproteinase expression levels suggest distinct enzyme roles during lumbar disc herniation and degeneration., Eur Spine J. 2009 Nov;18(11):1573-86
Poveda L, Hottiger M, Boos N, Wuertz K, Peroxynitrite induces gene expression in intervertebral disc cells., Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 May 15;34(11):1127-33
Neidlinger-Wilke C, Liedert A, Wuertz K, Buser Z, Rinkler C, Käfer W, Ignatius A, Claes L, Roberts S, Johnson WE, Mechanical stimulation alters pleiotrophin and aggrecan expression by human intervertebral disc cells and influences their capacity to stimulate endothelial migration, Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Apr 1;34(7):663-9
Franscini N, Bono E, Patocchi-Tenzer I, Durner R, Wuertz K, Boos N, Graf-Hausner U, Intervertebral disc degeneration: Automation of tissue culture processes for regenerative medicine applications, Int J Artif Organs 2009 Jul; 32(7):447
Wuertz K, Godburn K, MacLean JJ, Barbir A, Donnelly JS, Roughley PJ, Alini M, Iatridis JC, In vivo remodeling of intervertebral discs in response to short- and long-term dynamic compression., J Orthop Res. 2009 Sep;27(9):1235-42
Wuertz K, Godburn K, Iatridis JC, MSC response to pH levels found in degenerating intervertebral discs., Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Feb 20;379(4):824-9
Wuertz K, Urban JP, Klasen J, Ignatius A, Wilke HJ, Claes L, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Influence of extracellular osmolarity and mechanical stimulation on gene expression of intervertebral disc cells., J Orthop Res. 2007 Nov;25(11):1513-22
Wuertz K, Godburn K, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Urban J, Iatridis JC, Behavior of mesenchymal stem cells in the chemical microenvironment of the intervertebral disc., Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Aug 1;33(17):1843-9
Sivan S, Neidlinger-Wilke C, Würtz K, Maroudas A, Urban JPG, Diurnal fluid expression and activity of intervertebral disc cells, Biorheology, 2006; 43(3-4):283-91
Neidlinger-Wilke C, Würtz K, Urban JP, Börm W, Arand M, Ignatius A, Wilke HJ, Claes LE, Regulation of gene expression in intervertebral disc cells by low and high hydrostatic pressure., Eur Spine J. 2006 Aug;15 Suppl 3:S372-8
Neidlinger-Wilke C, Würtz K, Liedert A, Schmidt C, Börm W, Ignatius A, Wilke HJ, Claes LE, A three-dimensional collagen matrix as a suitable culture system for the comparison of cyclic strain and hydrostatic pressure effects on intervertebral disc cells., J Neurosurg Spine. 2005 Apr;2(4):457-65

Books Chapters and Monographs

Rückenschmerz und Lendenwirbelsäule: Interdisziplinäres Praxisbuch, Chapter: "Die Wirbelsäule im Alterungsprozess“ (Wuertz K, Boos N, Nerlich AG), Editors: Hildebrandt, Pfingsten (Urban & Fischer Verlag/Elsevier GmbH), Oktober 2011; ISBN-10: 3437232517; ISBN-13: 978-3437232510
Wuertz-Kozak K, Degenerative Disc Disease: From Pathobiology to Molecular Therapy (2016), Habilitation thesis (Venia Legendi), ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Wuertz-Kozak K, Implementation of Lean Management in Swiss Hospitals: A Multi-Case Study on the Effects of Staff Information and Training on Adoption and Utilization of Lean (2015), MBA thesis (with distinction), University of Cumbria, UK
Wuertz K, Einfluss mechanischer Reize auf humane und bovine Bandscheibenzellen (2006), PhD thesis (magna cum laude), University of Ulm