Table 3 Studies for cell-based treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration, the source of transplanted cells, the way of administration and the effect on the intervertebral disc.
From: Biologic Treatment of Mild and Moderate Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Source of cells | Administration | Effect | References |
|---|---|---|---|
Articular chondrocytes | In vivo, in rabbit IVD | Increased production of hyaline-like cartilage | |
Articular chondrocytes | In vivo, in porcine IVD | Increased proteoglycan and collagen type II synthesis | |
Articular chondrocytes | In vitro, coculture with bovine NP cells | Increased aggrecan and collagen gene expression and reduced expression of MMP-3, MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5 | |
Autologous chondrocyte-like cells harvested from herniated discs | In vivo, intradiscal injection after expansion in monolayer tissue culture | Spindle-shape morphology of cells in AF and chondrocyte phenotype in NP | |
Autologous chondrocyte-like cells harvested from herniated discs | In vivo, intradiscal injection in dog IVD | Cells remained viable, produced matrix components, disc height retained | |
Autologous chondrocyte-like cells harvested from herniated discs | In vivo, intradiscal injection in human IVD | Increase in fluid content, better pain relief at 2-years postinjection | |
Autologous chondrocyte-like cells harvested from herniated discs | Intradiscal injection | Cells lost differentiation and their ability to synthesize aggrecan and collagen type II | |
MSCs | Intradiscal injection in canine, porcine and rabbit | MSCs differentiated into NP cells phenotype, preserved water, restored disc height | |
MSCs | Direct injection into rabbit IVD | Deceleration of disc height loss, increase in T2 weighted signal intensity, GAGs increased, no differences between MSCs and NP cells | |
MSCs | In vivo, in rabbit IVD cells | Induce NP cells to suppress MMPs and inflammatory cytokines, increased collagen type II synthesis, increased disc height, improved MRI | |
MSCs and Link-N | Intradiscal injection in bovine IVD | Restored GAGs content, increased expression of collagen type II | |
MSCs | In vivo, in human IVD | Increased proteoglycan synthesis | |
MSCs | In vivo, in human IVD | No clinical improvement | |
MSCs and gene therapy with human telomerase reverse transcriptase | Intradiscal injection in dog IVD | Significant resistance to disc degeneration | |
MSCs and gene therapy with human TIMP-1 gene | Intradiscal injection in rabbit IVD | Increased TIMP-1 mRNA and protein expression, reduced degenerative changes |