Mesenchymal stem cells mediate disk regeneration by suppression of fibrosis in nucleus pulposus

Oral Presentations: S4.06INTRODUCTION: Confluent fibrosis, manifested as over-accumulation of fibrous matrix during tissue repair or remodeling, leads to scar formation and often organ failure. Studies suggest that 68% of protruded intervertebral disks and 44% of prolapsed IVD exhibit signs of fibrosis in the nucleus pulposus (NP) and that disk scarring indicates advanced stages of degeneration. It is not clear how fibrosis contributes to the initiation or progression of disk degeneration, and conversely if the prevention of fibrotic events plays a role in IVD repair or regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may arrest IVD degeneration and cross-talk with IVD cells via cell-cell contact or long-range signaling, implying MSCs may modulate disk microenvironment and function indirectly. Lup...link_to_OA_fulltex