Stem cells sources for intervertebral disc regeneration

Abstract

Intervertebral disc regeneration field is rapidly growing since disc disorders represent a major health problem in industrialized countries with very few possible treatments. Indeed, current available therapies are symptomatic, and surgical procedures consist in disc removal and spinal fusion, which is not immune to regardable concerns about possible comorbidities, cost-effectiveness, secondary risks and long-lasting outcomes. This review paper aims to share recent advances in stem cell therapy for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. In literature the potential use of different adult stem cells for intervertebral disc regeneration has already been reported. Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells, adipose tissue derived stem cells, synovial stem cells, muscle-derived stem cells, olfactory neural stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, disc stem cells, and embryonic stem cells have been studied for this purpose either in vitro or in vivo. Moreover, several engineered carriers (e.g., hydrogels), characterized by full biocompatibility and prompt biodegradation, have been designed and combined with different stem cell types in order to optimize the local and controlled delivery of cellular substrates in situ. The paper overviews the literature discussing the current status of our knowledge of the different stem cells types used as a cell-based therapy for disc regeneration.

Keywords: Cell therapy; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Spine; Stem cells; Tissue engineering.

Figure 1

Major sources for harvesting stem cells used for disc regeneration.

Figure 2

Flow chart summarizing the main steps of disc regeneration stem cell-based therapy. Stem cells can be either directly isolated and expanded, or combined with biocompatible carriers (e.g., hydrogels) or transfected with target genes, then injected into the nucleus pulposus of the injured intervertebral disc, potentially leading to disc regeneration.