title: Rabbit nucleus pulposus cells facilitate differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into nucleus pulposus-like cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of inducing adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  ADSCs were isolated from rabbit while NPCs were isolated from an allogeneic rabbit. NPCs were co-cultured with the 3rd generation ADSCs in co-cultured system. Only NPCs were cultured in single culturing group. Through the collagen type II collagen immunohistochemistry, we observed NPCs and then identify NPC. Proteoglycan messenger RNA (mRNA) and collagen type II mRNA level were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In two group cells, collagen type II collagen were detected by immunohistochemistry. The amount of proteoglycan mRNA and collagen type II mRNA was both significantly higher in co-cultured group than in single cultured group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In some condition, ADSCs have the potency to differentiate toward nucleus pulposus-like cells. ADSCs are better seed cells for tissue engineering of artificial nucleus pulposus.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: X J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger