Intervertebral Disc Cell Therapy for Regeneration: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Implantation in Rat Intervertebral Discs

Abstract

This study explores the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for intervertebral disc regeneration. We used an in vivo model to investigate the feasibility of exogenous cell delivery, retention, and survival in the pressurized disc space. MSC injection into rat coccygeal discs was performed using 15% hyaluronan gel as a carrier. Injections of gel with or without MSCs were performed. Immediately after injection, fluorescently labeled stem cells were visible on sections of cell-injected discs. Seven and 14 days after injection, stem cells were still present within the disc, but their numbers were significantly decreased. At 28 days, a return to the initial number of injected cells was observed, and viability was 100%. A trend of increased disc height compared to blank gel suggests an increase in matrix synthesis. The results indicate that MSCs can maintain viability and proliferate within the rat intervertebral disc.

Regeneration of intervertebral disc by mesenchymal stem cells: potentials, limitations, and future direction

“…Allogenic transplantation has also been investigated in normal coccygeal IVD of adult rats [13]. When transplanted in a hyaluronan gel scaffold, bone marrow MSCs survived in the nucleus pulposus over a 4-week period [13].…”

“…Fibrin gel has been used as a scaffold [6] that simulates the coagulation cascade to form fibrin matrix through fibrinogen and thrombin [42]. Other studies have used collagen gels [64, 66, 67], hyaluronan gel [13] and genipin cross-linked chitosan [47]. The established MSC-based regeneration models are expected to provide a useful tool for further investigation of the compatibility of MSCs with these and other types of scaffolds in vivo.…”

Creation of an injectable in situ gelling native extracellular matrix for nucleus pulposus tissue engineering

“…Tissue engineering approaches often combine growth factors and cells to attempt to repair the nucleus pulposus; however, in the harsh catabolic environment of the degenerating disc, growth factors and cells cannot survive [15][16][17][18][19][20]. The addition of a biomaterial carrier has the potential to increase cell viability and enable long-term growth factor delivery.…”

Human mesenchymal stem cells implantation into the degenerated coccygeal disc of the rat

“…However, these approaches cannot be viewed as fundamental treatments for IVD degeneration because they do not address its cause. Recently, the molecular biological characteristics of IVD degeneration were identified, and treatment strategies are being sought that regenerate IVDs by restoring extracellular matrix or cellular components in animal models (Crevensten et al 2004;Le Visage et al 2006;Sakai et al 2006Sakai et al , 2005Sakai et al , 2003.…”