Intervention of rAAV-hTERT-Transducted Nucleus Pulposus Cells in Early Stage of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Study in Canine Model

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Combined with Ultra-Purified Alginate Bioresorbable Gel Enhances Intervertebral Disc Repair in a Canine Model: A Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Study

Although discectomy is commonly performed for lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation, the capacity for tissue repair after surgery is limited, resulting in residual lower back pain, recurrence of IVD herniation, and progression of IVD degeneration. Cell-based therapies, as one-step procedures, are desirable for enhancing IVD repair. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of a combination of newly developed ultra-purified alginate (UPAL) gel and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) implantation for IVD repair after discectomy. Prior to an in vivo study, the cell concentration abilities of three commercially available preparation kits for creating the BMAC were compared by measuring the number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells harvested from the bone marrow of rabbits. Subsequently, canine-derived BMAC was tested in a canine model using a kit which had the highest concentration rate. At 24 weeks after implantation, we evaluated the changes in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals as well as histological degeneration grade and immunohistochemical analysis results for type II and type I collagen-positive cells in the treated IVDs. In all quantitative evaluations, such as MRI and histological and immunohistochemical analyses of IVD degeneration, BMAC-UPAL implantation significantly suppressed the progression of IVD degeneration compared to discectomy and UPAL alone. This preclinical proof-of-concept study demonstrated the potential efficacy of BMAC-UPAL gel as a therapeutic strategy for implementation after discectomy, which was superior to UPAL and discectomy alone in terms of tissue repair and regenerative potential.

Functionalized self-assembling peptide RADKPS hydrogels promote regenerative repair of degenerated intervertebral discs

Objective: the aim of this study was to investigate whether the functionalized self-assembling peptide hydrogel RADKPS is safe and effective for regenerative repair of degenerative intervertebral discs. Methods: an in vitro degenerative model of human nucleus pulposus cells was constructed by serum starvation culture, and their proliferation, apoptosis and viability were examined after three-dimensional culture with the RADKPS hydrogel. An in vivo degenerative model of the rabbit intervertebral disc was constructed by annulus fibrosus puncture, and the degeneration of the intervertebral disc was evaluated by imaging, histology, immunohistochemistry, and biomechanics after RADKPS hydrogel intervention. Results: through in vitro cell experiments it is shown that human degenerated nucleus pulposus cells after three-dimensional culture with the RADKPS hydrogel still exhibited better proliferation, viability, and low apoptosis rate. Through in vivo animal experiments we found that rabbit degenerated intervertebral discs intervened with the RADKPS hydrogel had higher water content, better histological morphology, more extracellular matrix synthesis, and better biomechanical properties. It is demonstrated that the RADKPS hydrogel may initiate the endogenous repair process through the sustained recruitment and enrichment of nucleus pulposus progenitor cells. Conclusion: it is verified from both in vitro cellular experiments and in vivo animal experiments that the regenerative repair effect of RADKPS, a functionalized self-assembling peptide hydrogel, on degenerated intervertebral discs is safe and effective. It is shown that it would be a new therapeutic approach for the regenerative repair action of intervertebral discs.

Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Approaches for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration in Relevant Animal Models

Translation of tissue engineering strategies for the regeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) requires a strong understanding of pathophysiology through the relevant animal model. There is no relevant animal model due to differences in disc anatomy, cellular composition, extracellular matrix components, disc physiology, and mechanical strength from humans. However, available animal models if used correctly could provide clinically relevant information for the translation into humans. In this review, we have investigated different types of strategies for the development of clinically relevant animal models to study biomaterials, cells, biomolecular or their combination in developing tissue engineering-based treatment strategies. Tissue engineering strategies that utilize various animal models for IVD regeneration are summarized and outcomes have been discussed. The understanding of animal models for the validation of regenerative approaches is employed to understand and treat the pathophysiology of degenerative disc disease (DDD) before proceeding for human trials. These animal models play an important role in building a therapeutic regime for IVD tissue regeneration, which can serve as a platform for clinical applications.

A Review of Gene Therapy Delivery Systems for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Background: :

Intervertebral Disc (IVD) degeneration is a major public health concern, and gene therapy seems a promising approach to delay or even reverse IVD degeneration. However, the delivery system used to transfer exogenous genes into intervertebral disc cells remains a challenge.

Methods::

The MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for English-language articles related to gene therapy for IVD degeneration articles from 1999 to May 2019. The keywords included “gene therapy” AND “intervertebral disc”. The history of the development of different delivery systems was analysed, and the latest developments in viral and non-viral vectors for IVD degeneration treatment were reviewed.

Results: :

Gene therapy delivery systems for IVD degeneration are divided into two broad categories: viral and non-viral vectors. The most commonly used viral vectors are adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), and lentivirus. Enthusiasm for the use of adenovirus vectors has gradually declined and has been replaced by a preference for lentivirus and AAV vectors. New technologies, such as RNAi and CRISPR, have further enhanced the advantage of viral vectors. Liposomes are the classic non-viral vector, and their successors, polyplex micelles and exosomes, have more potential for use in gene therapy for IVD degeneration.

Conclusion::

Lentivirus and AAV are the conventional viral vectors used in gene therapy for IVD degeneration, and the new technologies RNAi and CRISPR have further enhanced their advantages. Nonviral vectors, such as polyplex micelles and exosomes, are promising gene therapy vectors for IVD degeneration.

Overexpression of growth and differentiation factor-5 inhibits inflammatory factors released by intervertebral disc cells

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases in the world. The incidence is ~70% in adults and many of them suffer from disability. Recently, intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has been deemed as a main cause of LBP. The present study aimed to investigate the potentials of growth and differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) in IDD. The protein levels of prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β in culture medium were evaluated by ELISA. mRNA and protein expression levels in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. Griess reaction was applied to test the nitric oxide (NO) concentration in the culture supernatant. The expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in NP cells were measured by RT-qPCR. Collagen-II, aggrecan, IκBα and phosphorylated (p)-p65 expression levels were detected by western blotting. Compared with the control group, protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and PGE2, and NO concentration in culture medium were upregulated by LPS, which were significantly repressed by GDF-5 overexpression (P<0.05). Additionally, GDF-5 overexpression reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced upregulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, COX-2, collagen-II, aggrecan, IκBα and p-p65 expression levels in NP cells.

Cordycepin inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory and matrix degradation in the intervertebral disc

Cordycepin is a component of the extract obtained from Cordyceps militaris and has many biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-metastatic and anti-inflammatory effects. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a degenerative disease that is closely related to the inflammation of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. The effect of cordycepin on NP cells in relation to inflammation and degeneration has not yet been studied. In our study, we used a rat NP cell culture and an intervertebral disc (IVD) organ culture model to examine the inhibitory effects of cordycepin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced gene expression and the production of matrix degradation enzymes (MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5) and oxidative stress-associated factors (nitric oxide and PGE2). We found a protective effect of cordycepin on NP cells and IVDs against LPS-induced matrix degradation and macrophage infiltration. In addition, western blot and luciferase assay results demonstrated that pretreatment with cordycepin significantly suppressed the LPS-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. Taken together, the results of our research suggest that cordycepin could exert anti-inflammatory and anti-degenerative effects on NP cells and IVDs by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway. Therefore, cordycepin may be a potential treatment for IDD in the future.