Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells and nucleus pulposus cells in a degenerative disc model in rabbits: a comparison of 2 cell types as potential candidates for disc regeneration.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in a degenerative disc model in rabbits to determine the better candidate for disc cell therapy.


METHODS
Mesenchymal stem cells and NPCs were transplanted in a rabbit model of disc degeneration. Changes in disc height, according to plain radiography, T2-weighted signal intensity on MR imaging, histology, sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG)/DNA, and associated gene expression levels, were evaluated among healthy controls without surgery, sham-operated animals in which only disc degeneration was induced, MSC-transplanted animals, and NPC-transplanted animals for a 16-week period.


RESULTS
Sixteen weeks after cell transplantation, in the MSC- and NPC-transplanted groups, the decline in the disc height index was reduced and T2-weighted signal intensity increased compared with the sham-operated group. Safranin O staining showed a high GAG content, which was also supported by sGAG/DNA assessment. Disc regeneration was also confirmed at the gene expression level using real-time polymerase chain reaction. However, no significant differences in expression were found between the NPC- and MSC-transplanted groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Study data showed that MSC transplantation is effective for the treatment of disc degeneration and seems to be an ideal substitute for NPCs.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Ganjun
G
Feng
Xianfeng
X
Zhao
Hao
H
Liu
Huina
H
Zhang
Xiangjun
X
Chen
Rui
R
Shi
Xi
X
Liu
Xiaodan
X
Zhao
Wenli
W
Zhang
Beiyu
B
Wang
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C013786:A73025