title: An in vitro investigation into the role of bone marrow‑derived mesenchymal stem cells in the control of disc degeneration.
abstract: Excessive apoptosis and high expression levels of interleukin‑1β (IL‑1β) in disc cells have been reported to serve important roles in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Previous studies investigating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have indicated potential for their use in the treatment of IVDD. However, the therapeutic potential and anti‑apoptotic ability of MSCs remains to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to establish an in vitro model for bone marrow‑derived MSC (BMSC) therapy by investigating the anti‑apoptotic effects, in addition to the migration of BMSCs to nucleus pulposus (NP) cells stimulated by IL‑1β. A co-culture system of BMSCs and NP cells was founded. Following inflammatory stimulation, the NP cells exhibited increased indexes for inflammation‑induced degeneration. The degenerative and apoptotic indexes were significantly reduced when NP cells were co‑cultured with BMSCs. Compared with the indirect co-culture group, the direct co-culture group exhibited an improved capacity for anti-apoptosis. In addition, IL‑1β‑stimulated NP cells attracted and mediated the migration of BMSCs. Mitochondrial transfer from BMSCs to NP cells by tunneling nanotubes was also observed. In conclusion, the anti‑apoptosis and the migration, in addition to mitochondrial transfer associated with BMSC treatments in IVDD, were investigated in vitro in the present study. The interaction between stimulated NP cells and BMSCs is likely involved in to simulating the in vivo process of stem cell‑mediated repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200023, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200023, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guoying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200023, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of The Ministry of Education, Neuroscience Research Center of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yingyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200023, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200023, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001692:Biological Transport; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015870:Gene Expression; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D053148:Caspase 3