Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The main part of fibrinous gel is liquid state before mixing with catalytic agent, and it is injectable, solidifying after mixing them, this is similar with nucleus pulposus, the solidify time is strongly controllable, and it is advantageous to implant in nucleus pulposus as a carrier of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of bone marrow MSCs compound injectable fibrinous gel transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) transplantation on inhibiting intervertebral disc degeneration.
METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits are randomly divided into three groups: degeneration model group, pure fibrinous gel group and MSCs+fibrinous gel group. The degeneration models were produced in three groups by means of puncturing the annulus fibrosus, then the pure fibrinous gel group and MSCs + fibrinous gel group were respectively transplanted with fibrinous gel TGF-β1 complex and MSCs + fibrinous gel TGF-β1 complex. CR, MRI and pathological examinations were carried out at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after transplant.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The disc height index obviously decreased in the degeneration model group and the pure fibrinous gel group, which is positively correlated with time; but the index decreased slowly in MSCs + fibrinous gel group (P < 0.01). An immunohistochemistry study and a histological examination indicated a decreasing quantity of the nucleus pulposus cells and the content of type Ⅱ collagen in the degeneration model group, as well as an obviously increasing rate of cells apoptosis. The pure fibrinous gel group was similar to the degeneration model group. The MSCs + fibrinous gel group showed an obviously increasing quantity of nucleus pulposus cells and type Ⅱ collagen content compared with the degeneration group and the pure fibrinous gel group, while the cells apoptosis rate decreased. Bone marrow MSCs in combination with fibrinous gel TGF-β1 can prohibit intervertebral disc degeneration, but pure fibrinous gel TGF-β1 cannot.