title: Stem cells sources for intervertebral disc regeneration.
abstract: Intervertebral disc regeneration field is rapidly growing since disc disorders represent a major health problem in industrialized countries with very few possible treatments. Indeed, current available therapies are symptomatic, and surgical procedures consist in disc removal and spinal fusion, which is not immune to regardable concerns about possible comorbidities, cost-effectiveness, secondary risks and long-lasting outcomes. This review paper aims to share recent advances in stem cell therapy for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. In literature the potential use of different adult stem cells for intervertebral disc regeneration has already been reported. Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells, adipose tissue derived stem cells, synovial stem cells, muscle-derived stem cells, olfactory neural stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, disc stem cells, and embryonic stem cells have been studied for this purpose either in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, several engineered carriers (e.g., hydrogels), characterized by full biocompatibility and prompt biodegradation, have been designed and combined with different stem cell types in order to optimize the local and controlled delivery of cellular substrates in situ. The paper overviews the literature discussing the current status of our knowledge of the different stem cells types used as a cell-based therapy for disc regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Gianluca Vadalà, Fabrizio Russo, Luca Ambrosio, Mattia Loppini, Vincenzo Denaro, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vadalà
authors.affiliation: Gianluca Vadalà, Fabrizio Russo, Luca Ambrosio, Mattia Loppini, Vincenzo Denaro, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Gianluca Vadalà, Fabrizio Russo, Luca Ambrosio, Mattia Loppini, Vincenzo Denaro, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.affiliation: Gianluca Vadalà, Fabrizio Russo, Luca Ambrosio, Mattia Loppini, Vincenzo Denaro, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loppini
authors.affiliation: Gianluca Vadalà, Fabrizio Russo, Luca Ambrosio, Mattia Loppini, Vincenzo Denaro, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denaro
keywords: Cell therapy; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Spine; Stem cells; Tissue engineering