Hiraishi Syunsuke, Schol Jordy, Sakai Daisuke, Nukaga Tadashi, Erickson Isaac, Silverman Lara, Foley Kevin, Watanabe Masahiko
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Surgical Science Tokai University School of Medicine Isehara Japan.
DiscGenics Inc. Salt Lake City Utah.
JOR Spine. 2018 May 11;1(2):e1013. doi: 10.1002/jsp2.1013. eCollection 2018 Jun.
A multitude of studies has indicated the potential of cell therapy as a method for intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration. Transplantation of a variety of cells has been assessed and shown capable of deterring the rate of degeneration in animal models and in human clinical trials. In this study, a novel approach using human discogenic nucleus pulposus cells directly from their cryopreserved state was assessed. In an established canine disc degeneration model, the degeneration process was evaluated in IVDs receiving precultured discogenic cells, thawed-only discogenic cells, and a saline sham injection after induction of degeneration. Degeneration progression was followed over time by the evaluation of the disc height index (DHI). Finally, after 12 weeks, the manipulated and control discs were explanted, histologically stained, and scored. Treated discs demonstrated retained DHI values for all treatment options. Histologic evaluations demonstrated significant improvement of matrix features compared to the sham. Moreover, thawed-only cells function at least as well as precultured discogenic cells. In short, cell transplantation of human discogenic cells directly from their cryopreserved state can arrest disc height degeneration and maintain histological matrix features in a canine disc degeneration model. The presented work demonstrates the potential of an off-the-shelf cell therapy product to treat degenerative disc disease.
大量研究表明细胞疗法作为一种椎间盘（IVD）再生方法的潜力。多种细胞的移植已得到评估，并显示在动物模型和人体临床试验中能够延缓退变速度。在本研究中，评估了一种直接使用处于冷冻保存状态的人椎间盘源性髓核细胞的新方法。在一个已建立的犬椎间盘退变模型中，对退变诱导后接受预培养的椎间盘源性细胞、仅解冻的椎间盘源性细胞和生理盐水假注射的IVD进行退变过程评估。通过评估椎间盘高度指数（DHI）随时间跟踪退变进展。最后，12周后，将处理过的椎间盘和对照椎间盘取出，进行组织学染色并评分。所有治疗方案的处理过的椎间盘均显示出保留的DHI值。组织学评估表明与假注射组相比，基质特征有显著改善。此外，仅解冻的细胞功能至少与预培养的椎间盘源性细胞一样好。简而言之，直接从冷冻保存状态的人椎间盘源性细胞进行细胞移植可以阻止犬椎间盘退变模型中的椎间盘高度退变并维持组织学基质特征。所展示的工作证明了一种现成的细胞治疗产品治疗退行性椎间盘疾病的潜力。
