Mesenchymal stromal cells rescue disc degeneration and function via suppression of fibrotic events

DMM 2011 entitled: Re-engineering Regenerative MedicinePoster Session - Orthopedic Regeneration: no. 92Chronic back pain and neuropathological conditions such as spondylomyelopathy and radiculopathy are associated with degeneration of the intervertebral discs in spinal column. Human and animal studies imply a role of fibrosis in the degeneration process. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess anti-fibrotic activities. We investigated if MSCs elicit disc regeneration through modulating fibrotic events. Skeletally mature rabbits with injury-induced lumbar disc degeneration were randomized to receive intradiscal engraftment of bone marrow-derived MSCs or control vehicle. Disc degeneration status was evaluated by MRI and radiographs. We showed that MSCs regenerated the disc along with a recovery …postprin