Intradiscal Injection Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived Nucleus Pulposus-like Cells Promotes Rat Disc Regeneration

Cell replacement therapy is an attractive alternative for treating intervertebral disc degeneration(ODD),as a decrease in the number of nucleus pulposus(NP)cells seems to be the main cause.Gelatin has been widely used as a biomaterial,and its biosafety has been proved through long-term usage.In this study,we generated sustained-release growth and differentiation factor-5(GDF-5)gelatin microspheres(GMs)as a cell delivery vehicle;after the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into mesoblastic eells and NP-like eells(NPCs),we aimed to show that the injection of NPC-seeded GDF-5-loaded GMs eould reverse the IDD process.Changes in disc height,as indicated by radiographs and T2-weighted signal intensity in magnetic resonance imaging,showed that the disc height recovered,and the water content increased.Histology and imunohistochemistry results indicated that the NP cells and extracellular matrix were partially restored.Our results suggest that the NPC-seeded GDF-5-loaded GMs eould partially regenerate degenerated intervertebral discs after transplantation into rat coccygeal intervertebral discs.