Treatment for the intervertebral disc degeneration by trasnsplantation with bone mesenchymal stem cell-chitosan hydrogel complex

Abstract

Objective To explore the curative effects of transplantation with bone mesenchymal stem cell-chitosan hydrogel complex for intervertebral disc degeneration, and provide experimental base for clinical use. Methods The disc degenerative model of rabbits was established, and bone mesenchymal stem cell-chitosan hydrogel complex was injected into the degenerative disc. After feeding for another 4 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and the disc transplanted with the complex was removed for HE stai-ning, Aggrecan safranin O staining, and Ⅱ-collagen immunohistochemical staining. The findings were com-pared with those of the untreated degenerative disc or normal discs. Results Rabbit bone mesenchymal stem cell-chitosan hydrogel complex could survive in the degenerative discs,the cells could differentiate to nucleus pulposus-like cells which synthesized and secreted Ⅱ-collagen and aggrecan, and the complex could maintain the biological characteristics of nucleus pulpesus. In contrast, in the untreated group, there was nucleus pulposus collapse and fibrosis, and the synthesis of the Ⅱ-collagen and aggrecan was de-creased dramatically (P<0.05). Conclusion The bone mesenchymal stem cell-chitosan hydrogel com-plex can repair the degenerative discs, which provides a foundation for the injectable tissue engineering nu-cleus pulposus to treat intervertebral disc degeneration in clinic. Key words: One mesenchymal stem cells; Chitosan; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Tis-su engineering