Variations in gene and protein expression in human nucleus pulposus in comparison with annulus fibrosus and cartilage cells: potential associations with aging and degeneration

Abstract

The gene expression of KRT19 has the potential to characterize human NP cells, whereas MGP cannot serve as a characteristic marker. KRT19 protein expression was only detected in NP cells of donors younger than 54 years.

Influence of different commercial scaffolds on the in vitro differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells to nucleus pulposus-like cells

“…To improve the discrimination between cartilage-like and NP-like differentiation of MSCs in different scaffolds after 5 weeks in chondrogenic medium, we tested the expression of genes recently associated with NP phenotype [35,36], namely KER19, PAX1 and FOXF1 (Fig. 7).…”

Mechanical Loading Promoted Discogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Incorporated in 3D-PEG Scaffolds with rhGDF5 and RGD

“…To our surprise, although the MMP-degradable modified PEG-hydrogel with RGD has been reported to be suitable Relative gene expression of a screen of 15 genes of hMSCs seeded in PEG hydrogels after pre-conditioning with 100ng/mL rhGDF5 (day 13) and after mechanical loading at 1Hz (15% strain, 1h daily) (day 18). The genes have been described to be specific for intervertebral disc-like phenotype [20][21][22]. Box and whiskers represent medians and min.…”

“…Recently, a consortium was formed to define the discogenic phenotype [20] more closely. There were a number of markers pointed out that could possibly define the nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) phenotype, such as expression of glypican 3 (GPC3), cytokeratins (KRT8, 19), junctophilin (JPH3), SOX-2, carboanhydrase 12, paxillin (PAX1) based on transcriptome studies [20][21][22]. Therefore, we aim to investigate the combined influence of RGD, rhGDF5 and mechanical loading on the fate of hMSCs.…”

'Cell or Not to Cell' that is the Question: For Intervertebral Disc Regeneration?

“…he origin of these smaller chondrocyte like cells in the NP is currently an unresolved area of IVD research with controversy as to whether the chondrocyte like cells migrate from surrounding tissues or diferentiate from the notochordal cells [12,13]. Furthermore a deinitive phenotypic maker of NP cells is yet to be characterised, thus the origin and proile of these cells remains a signiicant challenge for cell based regenerative strategies [14][15][16][17][18].…”

“…he majority of studies, including those which have been discussed in this review, deine NP cell diferentiation using traditional chondrogenic genes such as Sex Determining Region (SRY) box 9, collagen type II and aggrecan [94,102,106,107]. However cells and tissues of articular cartilage and NP demonstrate signiicant diferences in terms of morphology, ECM disposition and biomechanical behaviour [5]; consequently, the identiication of diferential NP markers which can be used to inform and thoroughly assess MSC diferentiation is the current focus of many research studies [14][15][16][17][18]108].…”