title: Transplantation of human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells highly expressing TGFβ receptors in a rabbit model of disc degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely considered to hold promise for the treatment of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. However, variation in the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs is a major problem and the derivation of MSCs for use in IVD regeneration has not been optimized. Additionally, no data are available on the efficacy of Wharton's Jelly-derived MSC (WJ-MSC) transplantation in an animal model of IVD degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated the effectiveness of a cross-linked hyaluronic acid (XHA) scaffold loaded with human WJ-MSCs, according to their expression levels of transforming growth factor-β receptor I/activin-like kinase receptor 5 (TβRI/ALK5) and TβRII, for IVD regeneration in a rabbit model. We compared the degree of IVD regeneration between rabbits transplanted with a XHA scaffold loaded with WJ-MSCs highly and lowly expressing TβRI/ALK5 and TβRII (MSC-highTR and MSC-lowTR, respectively) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 weeks after transplantation, T2-weighted MRI analysis showed significant restoration of the disc water content in rabbits treated with a MSC-highTR-loaded XHA scaffold in comparison to rabbits treated with the scaffold alone or a MSC-lowTR-loaded XHA scaffold. In addition, morphological and histological analyses revealed that IVD regeneration was highest in rabbits transplanted with a MSC-highTR-loaded XHA scaffold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results suggest that a MSC-highTR-loaded XHA scaffold supports IVD regeneration more effectively than a MSC-lowTR-loaded XHA scaffold. This study supports the potential clinical use of MSC-highTR-loaded XHA scaffolds to halt IVD degeneration or to enhance IVD regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, South Korea. bioart96@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jongchan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, South Korea. hopeasun@naver.com.
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, South Korea. kbz9861@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Byeong Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, South Korea. winner21cj-s@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Jin-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, South Korea. bgchoi725@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bogyu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-400, South Korea. soohong@cha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Soo-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, CHA University, CHA Bundang Medical Center, 59 Yatap-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13496, South Korea. hanib@cha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Inbo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000628:therapy*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid