[Advances of nucleus pulposus cells for treating intervertebral disc degeneration].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce the research of nucleus pulposus cells for treating intervertebral disc degeneration.


METHODS
The original articles in recent years about nucleus pulposus cells for treating intervertebral disc degeneration were extensively reviewed, and retrospective and comprehensive analysis was performed.


RESULTS
Nucleus pulposus cells are not only simply a remnant of embryonic notochordal cells, but have also an important influence on the well-being of the whole disc. The biological treatment strategies aim to regenerate the disc by either trying to improve the micro-environment within the disc or to increase the population of the nucleus pulposus, which includes transplanting mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into nucleus-like cells in the degenerated intervertebral disc.


CONCLUSIONS
Nucleus pulposus cells or nucleus pulposus like cells based cell transplantation methods prove to be a promising and realistic approach for the intervertebral disc regeneration.
Wang
Feng
F
Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing Jiangsu, 210009, P.R. China.
Wang
Yuntao
Y
Wu
Xiaotao
X
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*