Combinatorial conditioning of adipose derived-mesenchymal stem cells enhances their neurovascular potential: Implications for intervertebral disc degeneration.

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are becoming an increasingly attractive option for regenerative therapies due to their availability, self-renewal capacity, multilineage potential, and anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical trials are underway to test the efficacy of stem cell-based therapies for the repair and regeneration of the degenerate intervertebral disc (IVD), a major cause of back pain. Recently, both bone marrow-derived MSCs and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have been assessed for IVD therapy but there is a lack of knowledge surrounding the optimal cell source and the response of transplanted cells to the low oxygen, pro-inflammatory niche of the degenerate disc. Here, we investigated several neurovascular factors from donor-matched MSCs and ASCs that may potentiate the survival and persistence of sensory nerve fibers and blood vessels present within painful degenerate discs and their regulation by oxygen tensions and inflammatory cytokines. Methods Donor-matched ASCs and MSCs were conditioned with either IL-1β or TNFα under normoxic (21% O 2 ) or hypoxic (5% O 2 ) conditions. Expression and secretion of several potent neurovascular factors were assessed using qRT-PCR and human magnetic Luminex assay. Results ASCs and MSCs expressed constitutive levels of key neurotrophic factors; and stimulation of ASCs with hypoxia triggered increased secretion of both a

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

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