Intervertebral disc repair using adipose tissue-derived stem and regenerative cells: experiments in a canine model.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• 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)

Therapeutic treatment of intervertebral disc repair using cells. The goal of the study was to test the hypothesis that repair of a damaged disc is possible using autologous adipose tissue derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs). Degradation resulting from either acute or chronic repetitive disc injury leads to disc degeneration. However, if a damaged disc could be repaired in the early stages, before the onslaught of degradation, then the disc degeneration process may be slowed down. Twelve dogs underwent a partial nucleotomy at 3 lumbar levels (L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-L6); adjacent levels served as nonoperated controls. The animals (or discs) were allowed to recover from the surgery for 6 weeks. At that time subcutaneous adipose tissue was harvested and ADRCs were isolated. The 3 experimental discs that had undergone a partial nucleotomy were randomized to receive: (1) ADRCs in hyaluronic acid carrier (Cells/HA); (2) HA only; or (3) No Intervention. Assessments of the 3 experimental discs plus the 2 adjacent untouched discs were made using MRI, radiography, histology, and biochemistry. The animals were killed at 6 months and at 12 months. Repair in this study was specifically demonstrated through histology and biochemical analysis. Disc levels receiving ADRCs more closely resembled the healthy controls as evidenced in matrix translucency, compartmentalization of the anulus, a

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.