Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People's Republic of China.
Eur Spine J. 2012 Apr;21(4):613-22. doi: 10.1007/s00586-011-2039-4. Epub 2011 Oct 28.
Cartilage endplate (CEP) degeneration is usually accompanied by loss of cellularity, and this loss may be a crucial key factor in initiation and development of degenerative disc disease. The study of cell types in degenerated CEP could help in understanding CEP etiopathogenesis, and may help in devising new treatments, especially if the presence of progenitor cells could be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine if progenitor cells existed in degenerated human CEP.
Cells isolated from CEP were cultured in a three-dimensional agarose suspension to screen for proliferative cell clusters. Cell clusters were then expanded in vitro and the populations were analyzed for colony forming unit, immunophenotype, multilineage induction, and expression of stem cell-related genes.
The presence of progenitor cells in degenerated human CEP is indicated by the results of CFU, immunophenotype, multilineage induction, and expression of stem cell-related genes.
We believe that this is the first study which has conclusively shown the presence of progenitor cells in degenerated CEP. The finding of this study may influence the clinical management of degenerative disc disorder.
软骨终板（CEP）退变通常伴随着细胞丧失，而这种丧失可能是引发和发展退行性椎间盘疾病的关键因素。研究退变 CEP 中的细胞类型有助于了解 CEP 的病因发病机制，并有助于设计新的治疗方法，特别是如果能证明存在祖细胞的话。本研究旨在确定退变的人 CEP 中是否存在祖细胞。
从 CEP 分离的细胞在三维琼脂糖悬浮中培养，以筛选增殖细胞簇。然后将细胞簇在体外扩增，并对集落形成单位、免疫表型、多能诱导和干细胞相关基因的表达进行分析。
CFU、免疫表型、多能诱导和干细胞相关基因的结果表明退变人 CEP 中存在祖细胞。
我们相信这是第一项明确表明退变 CEP 中存在祖细胞的研究。本研究的发现可能会影响退行性椎间盘疾病的临床管理。
