Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation therapy for one treatment of disc degeneration

研究设计：采用动物椎间盘退变模型（新西兰大白兔），将自体间充质干细胞（MSCs）骨髓移植到退变椎间盘。评价：术后采用多种方法评价椎间盘退变的减速程度，x线片评价椎间盘高度，MRI片评价椎间盘退变程度，HE染色和红花O染色观察椎间盘组织学变化，凝集聚糖、II型胶原、硫酸软骨素、硫酸角蛋白免疫荧光测定移植细胞活力。结果：各评价项目均证实移植细胞存活，对椎间盘退变有减缓作用。提示MSCs向软骨细胞样细胞分化的主要原因是凝集聚糖、II型胶原、硫酸软骨素、硫酸角蛋白的表达。结论：髓核细胞可分化为间充质干细胞。未来研究：我们将提出髓核细胞与间充质干细胞共培养系统，以评估髓核细胞活力上调的影响。为了将这些研究应用于临床医学，我们将进行大型动物体内髓核细胞移植、体外培养人髓核细胞和间充质干细胞等新的实验。

Study design : using animal disc degeneration model (New Zea Land white rabbits), autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) bone marrow derived were transplanted into the degenerative disc.Evaluation : In post operation, the deceleration of disc degeneration was evaluated in various methods, for height of disc by X-ray films, the grade of disc degeneration by MRI films, histological findings of disc by HE and safranine O dyeing, transplanted cell viability by measuring the immunofluorescence of agglycan, type II collagen, chondroitin sulphate, keratin sulphate.Results : We could confirm that transplanted cells were alive and the effect to the deceleration of disc degeneration was appeared in all evaluative items. And it is suggested that MSCs were differenciated for the chondrocyte-like cells because of expressions of agglycan, type II collagen, chondroitin sulphate, keratin sulphate.Conclusion : Mesenchymal stem cells might be differentiated for nucleus pulposus cells. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells decelerated discdegeneration in vivoFuture Study : We will propose the coculture system between nucleus pulposus cells and mesenchymal stem cells to evaluate the effect of upregulation of the viability of nucleus pulposus cells.To apply these study for clinical medicine, we will have new experiments such as cell transplantation of nucleus pulposus cells in a large animal model in vivo, culture of human nucleus pulposus cells and mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.