Compartmentalization of the matrix formed by nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells in alginate gel

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. A113-A113
Author(s):  
E. Thonar ◽  
H. An ◽  
K. Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus ◽  
Alginate Gel ◽  
The Matrix

Compartmentalization of the matrix formed by nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells in alginate gel

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 874-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Thonar ◽  
H. An ◽  
K. Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus ◽  
Articular Chondrocyte ◽  
Alginate Gel ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Disc Cells ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Associated Matrix

Intervertebral disc cells cultured in alginate gel are capable of reforming in alginate, a matrix that consists of two compartments: a rim of metabolically active cell-associated matrix and a more abundant, but metabolically less active, further removed matrix. At any one age and in most species, the cell-associated matrix formed by a nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosus cell cultured in this way is less abundant than that formed by an articular chondrocyte. In both the cell-associated matrix and further removed matrix, the ratio of aggrecan to collagen is significantly higher in the case of nucleus pulposus than of annulus fibrosus, a feature that also distinguishes the matrices of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus in vivo. Nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells from older donors show a decreased ability to reform a cell-associated matrix rich in aggrecan. There is, however, some evidence that gene therapy and/or exposure of the cells to defined stimulatory factors can help overcome some of these age-related limitations. This contention is supported by recent evidence that nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells from adult donors can be manipulated to form, using the recently developed alginate-recovered chondrocyte system, a resilient tissue that bears many of the characteristics of the tissue in which these cells reside in vivo.

The Influence of Axial Compression on the Cellular and Mechanical Function of Spinal Tissues; Emphasis on The Nucleus Pulposus and Annulus Fibrosus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John McMorran ◽  
Diane Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Axial Compression ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus ◽  
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽  
Chronic Back Pain ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Movement Pattern ◽  
Mechanical Function

Abstract In light of the correlation between chronic back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration, this literature review seeks to illustrate the importance of the hydraulic response across the nucleus pulposus- annulus fibrosus interface, by synthesizing current information regarding injurious biomechanics of the spine, stemming from axial compression. Damage to vertebrae, endplates, the nucleus pulposus, and the annulus fibrosus, can all arise from axial compression, depending on the segment's posture, the manner in which it is loaded, and the physiological state of tissue. Therefore, this movement pattern was selected to illustrate the importance of the bracing effect of a pressurized nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus, and how injuries interrupting support to the annulus fibrosus may contribute to intervertebral disc degeneration.

scholarly journals Evaluation of apoptotic cell death in normal and chondrodystrophic canine intervertebral discs

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Klauser ◽  
Franck Forterre ◽  
Marcus Doherr ◽  
Andreas Zurbriggen ◽  
David Spreng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Disc Degeneration ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
Discogenic Pain ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Chondroid Metaplasia ◽  
Related Increase

Disc degeneration occurs commonly in dogs. A variety of factors is thought to contribute an inappropriate disc matrix that isolate cells in the disc and lead to apoptosis. Disc herniation with radiculopathy and discogenic pain are the results of the degenerative process. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the extent of apoptosis in intact and herniated intervertebral discs of chondrodystrophic dogs and non-chondrodystrophic dogs. In addition, the nucleus pulposus (NP) was histologically compared between non-chondrodystrophic and chondrodystrophic dogs. Thoracolumbar intervertebral discs and parts of the extruded nucleus pulposus were harvested from 45 dogs. Samples were subsequently stained with haematoxylin-eosin and processed to detect cleaved caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. A significant greater degree of apoptosis was observed in herniated NPs of chondrodystrophic dogs compared to non- chondrodystrophic dogs with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and cleaved caspase- 3 detection. Within the group of chondrodystrophic dogs, dogs with an intact disc and younger than 6 years showed a significant lower incidence of apoptosis in the NP compared to the herniated NP of chondrodystrophic dogs. The extent of apoptosis in the annulus fibrosus was not different between the intact disc from chondrodystrophic and non- chondrodystrophic dogs. An age-related increase of apoptotic cells in NP and annulus fibrosus was found in the intact non-herniated intervertebral discs. Histologically, absence of notochordal cells and occurrence of chondroid metaplasia were observed in the nucleus pulposus of chondrodystrophic dogs. As a result, we found that apoptosis plays a role in disc degeneration in chondrodystrophic dogs.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Seeded High-Density Collagen Gel for Annular Repair: 6-Week Results From In Vivo Sheep Models

Neurosurgery ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. E350-E359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Hussain ◽  
Stephen R Sloan ◽  
Christoph Wipplinger ◽  
Rodrigo Navarro-Ramirez ◽  
Micaella Zubkov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus ◽  
Perioperative Complications ◽  
Collagen Gel ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
High Density ◽  
Sheep Model ◽  
Gel Treatment ◽  
Pfirrmann Grade

AbstractBACKGROUNDOur group has previously demonstrated in vivo annulus fibrosus repair in animal models using an acellular, riboflavin crosslinked, high-density collagen (HDC) gel.OBJECTIVETo assess if seeding allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into this gel yields improved histological and radiographic benefits in an in vivo sheep model of annular injury.METHODSFifteen lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs) were randomized into 4 groups: intact, injury only, injury + acellular gel treatment, or injury + MSC-seeded gel treatment. Sheep were sacrificed at 6 wk. Disc height index (DHI), Pfirrmann grade, nucleus pulposus area, and T2 relaxation time (T2-RT) were calculated for each IVD and standardized to healthy controls from the same sheep. Quantitative histological assessment was also performed using the Han scoring system.RESULTSAll treated IVDs retained gel plugs on gross assessment and there were no adverse perioperative complications. The MSC-seeded gel treatment group demonstrated statistically significant improvement over other experimental groups in DHI (P = .002), Pfirrmann grade (P < .001), and T2-RT (P = .015). There was a trend for greater Han scores in the MSC-seeded gel-treated discs compared with injury only and acellular gel-treated IVDs (P = .246).CONCLUSIONMSC-seeded HDC gel can be delivered into injured IVDs and maintained safely in live sheep to 6 wk. Compared with no treatment and acellular HDC gel, our data show that MSC-seeded HDC gel improves outcomes in DHI, Pfirrmann grade, and T2-RT. Histological analysis shows improved annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus reconstitution and organization over other experimental groups as well.

scholarly journals Early differentation of lamellar structure of the intervertebral disc in staged human embryos

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-166
Author(s):  
Witold Woźniak ◽  
Małgorzata Grzymisławska ◽  
Joanna Łupicka ◽  
Małgorzata Bruska ◽  
Adam Piotrowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Intervertebral Discs ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Lateral Zone ◽  
Vast Literature ◽  
Dense Zone

Introduction. In the vast literature concerning the development of the intervertebral discs controversies exist as to the period of differentiation and structure of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus. These controversies result from different determination of age of the investigated embryos. Aim. Using embryos from departmental collection age of which was established according to international Carnegie staging and expressed in postfertilizational days, the differentiation of the intervertebral discs was traced. Material and methods. Study was performed on 34 embryos at developmental stages 13–23 (32–56 days). Embryos were serially sectioned in sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes. Sections were stained with various histological methods and impregnated with silver.Results. Division of sclerotomes into loose cranial and dense caudal zones (sclerotomites) was observed in embryos aged 32 days (stage 13). The intervertebral disc developed from the dense zone of sclerotome and was well recognized in embryos aged 33 days (stage 14). At the end of fifth week (embryos at stage 15, 36 days) the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus were seen. The annulus fibrosus differentiated into lateral and medial zones. Within the lateral zone cells were arranged into circular rows. These rows were considered as the first stage of laminar structure. In further developmental stages the laminae occupied both zones of the annulus fibrosus.Conclusions. The intervertebral discs develop from the dense zone of the sclerotome which is evident in embryos at stage 13 (32 days). Discs differentiate in embryos aged 33 days, when the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus are recognized. In embryos aged 36 days in the annulus fibrosus circular rows forming laminar arrangement are seen.

scholarly journals Dynamic Compression Promotes the Matrix Synthesis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells Through Up-Regulating N-CDH Expression in a Perfusion Bioreactor Culture

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 482-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yichun Xu ◽  
Hui Yao ◽  
Pei Li ◽  
Wenbin Xu ◽  
Junbin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Dynamic Compression ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Bioreactor Culture ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus Cells ◽  
Matrix Synthesis ◽  
Static Compression ◽  
Matrix Deposition ◽  
The Matrix

Background/Aims: An adequate matrix production of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells is an important tissue engineering-based strategy to regenerate degenerative discs. Here, we mainly aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of mechanical compression (i.e., static compression vs. dynamic compression) on the matrix synthesis of three-dimensional (3D) cultured NP cells in vitro. Methods: Rat NP cells seeded on small intestinal submucosa (SIS) cryogel scaffolds were cultured in the chambers of a self-developed, mechanically active bioreactor for 10 days. Meanwhile, the NP cells were subjected to compression (static compression or dynamic compression at a 10% scaffold deformation) for 6 hours once per day. Unloaded NP cells were used as controls. The cellular phenotype and matrix biosynthesis of NP cells were investigated by real-time PCR and Western blotting assays. Lentivirus-mediated N-cadherin (N-CDH) knockdown and an inhibitor, LY294002, were used to further investigate the role of N-CDH and the PI3K/Akt pathway in this process. Results: Dynamic compression better maintained the expression of cell-specific markers (keratin-19, FOXF1 and PAX1) and matrix macromolecules (aggrecan and collagen II), as well as N-CDH expression and the activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway, in the 3D-cultured NP cells compared with those expression levels and activity in the cells grown under static compression. Further analysis showed that the N-CDH knockdown significantly down-regulated the expression of NP cell-specific markers and matrix macromolecules and inhibited the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway under dynamic compression. However, inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway had no effects on N-CDH expression but down-regulated the expression of NP cell-specific markers and matrix macromolecules under dynamic compression. Conclusion: Dynamic compression increases the matrix synthesis of 3D-cultured NP cells compared with that of the cells under static compression, and the N-CDH-PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in this regulatory process. This study provides a promising strategy to promote the matrix deposition of tissue-engineered NP tissue in vitro prior to clinical transplantation.

Isolation of Nucleus Pulposus and Annulus Fibrosus Cells from the Intervertebral Disc

2020 ◽  
pp. 41-52
Author(s):  
Guus G. H. van den Akker ◽  
Andy Cremers ◽  
Donatus A. M. Surtel ◽  
Willem Voncken ◽  
Tim J. M. Welting
Keyword(s):  
Intervertebral Disc ◽  
Nucleus Pulposus ◽  
Annulus Fibrosus
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