title: An in-vitro study on regeneration of human nucleus pulposus by using gelatin/chondroitin-6-sulfate/hyaluronan tri-copolymer scaffold.
abstract: Tissue engineering approaches for treating degenerative intervertebral discs aim to promote tissue regeneration then retard or even reverse the degenerative process. A gelatin/chondroitin-6-sulfate/hyaluronan tri-copolymer was developed to serve as a bioactive scaffold that could help human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells to preserve their cell viability/proliferation and promote matrix synthesis. Each scaffold was seeded with 1 x 10(6) monolayer-expanded human NP cells and then cultured in vitro. Over a 4-week cultivation period, cell-scaffold hybrids demonstrated active cell viability/proliferation and a progressive increase in net production of glycosaminoglycans. In comparison to monolayer cells, scaffold-cultured cells showed significantly higher mRNA expression in collagen II, aggrecan, Sox9, TGFbeta1, and TIMP1. Expression of mRNA was significantly suppressed in collagen I, collagen X, IL1, and Fas-associating death domain protein. Histological studies showed newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans deposits and collagen II in scaffolds. These results indicate that the tri-copolymer scaffold could be considered as a promising bioactive scaffold for regenerating human NP.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Po-Quang
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng-Huei
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005780:Gelatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D024043:Collagen Type II; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005780:Gelatin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates