Cytokine profiles in conditioned media from cultured human intervertebral disc tissue

Background Cytokines released from intervertebral discs cultured in vitro have not been profiled, and the effect of these cytokines on human bone marrow stem cells is yet to be studied.

Materials and methods Intervertebral discs from 14 patients who had undergone spinal fusion surgery were cultured separately in vitro. Conditioned media were collected after 48 and 96 h of culture in serum-free Minimum Essential Medium (MEM). Profiling of the cytokines was conducted using pooled media. Conditioned medium from each patient was also tested in human bone marrow stem cell culture, and incorporation of alkaline phosphatase and ³H-thymidine incorporation was evaluated.

Results Of the 18 cytokines screened, 12 were found to be positive, but only eotaxin, IP-10, Rantes IL-6 and IL-8 seemed to be present at high levels. There was a close correlation between IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the medium (R=0.90, p < 0.001). When the conditioned media were added to human bone marrow stem cell cultures, cellular proliferation was stimulated (p=0.02), but alkaline phosphatase activity remained unchanged. Cellular proliferation correlated negatively with IL-6 levels (R=-0.44, p=0.04).

Interpretation Intervertebral discs secrete certain cytokines into the medium when cultured in vitro, and conditioned media from cultured intervertebral discs stimulate proliferation of bone marrow stem cells.     

Regeneration potential and mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a primary cause of low back pain and has a high societal cost. The pathological mechanism by which the intervertebral disc degenerates is largely unknown. Cell-based therapy especially using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as seeds for transplantation, although still in its infancy, is proving to be a promising, realistic approach to intervertebral disc regeneration. This article reviews current advances regarding regeneration potential in both the in vivo and vitro studies of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy and discusses the up-to-date regeneration mechanisms of stem cell transplantation for treating intervertebral disc degeneration.     

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on intervertebral disc metabolism.

STUDY DESIGN: By the use of pressure vessels, hydrostatic pressure was applied to intervertebral disc cells cultured in an alginate. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that hydrostatic pressure directly affects the synthesis of collagen and proteoglycan by the intervertebral disc cells. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The influence of compression (both hydrostatic and mechanical) on chondrocyte metabolism was examined in a number of earlier studies. However, in most of these studies, articular cartilage, not intervertebral disc, was used, and in none of these was hydrostatic pressure applied to intervertebral disc cells cultured in alginate. METHODS: Fresh cells were harvested from the lumbar intervertebral discs of dogs. Before their suspension in an alginate gel system, the cells were plated and expanded until they reached confluence. Then, by use of the alginate gel system, the cells were exposed (for up to 9 days) to specific values of hydrostatic pressure inside two stainless steel pressure vessels. One vessel was kept at 1 MPa and the other at atmospheric pressure. The effects of 1 MPa were compared against atmospheric pressure by measuring the incorporation of [3H]-proline and [35S]-sulfate into collagen and proteoglycans, respectively, for the anulus cells and nucleus cells separately, and by determining whether this incorporation was reflected by changes in the levels of mRNA for aggrecan and Types I and II collagen. RESULTS: Comparisons with atmospheric pressure yielded the following findings: 1) In the incorporation studies, the nucleus and anulus cells exhibited a differential response to a hydrostatic pressure of 1 MPa. Collagen and proteoglycan syntheses were stimulated in the nucleus cells and inhibited in the anulus cells. 2) There was no significant increase in cell proliferation, as measured by DNA content, at 1 MPa for either the anulus or nucleus cells. 3) The mRNA levels of collagen (Col 1A1 and Col 2A1) and aggrecan increased at 1 MPa in both the nucleus and anulus cells. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrostatic pressure directly affects the synthesis of collagen and proteoglycan by the intervertebral disc cells.     

The influence of human intervertebral disc tissue on the metabolism of osteoblast-like cells

Extensive studies have been performed to evaluate different factors that may affect on spinal interbody fusion, but the role of intervertebral disc tissue in the fusion process remains unclear. To study the influence of intervertebral disc tissue on osteoblast metabolism, we harvested disc tissue from patients who had undergone spinal surgery. The nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus were separately co-cultured with osteoblast-like cells SaOS-2 by means of culture inserts or organ culture. We assayed alkaline phosphoatase activity, 3 H-thymidine incorporation into the DNA, and production of collagen type I, IL-1^6;, IL-6, IL10, and TNF-^5;. Exposure of the nucleus pulposus (NP) to osteoblastlike cells revealed stimulation of alkaline phosphatase production, 3 H-thymidine incorporation and collagen type I production. Exposure of the annulus fibrosus (AF) stimulated 3 H-thymidine incorporation and collagen type I production, but did not affect ALP activity. IL-6 was detected after application of NP and AF. Interleukin IL-10, IL-1^6; and TNF-^5; were all below detection levels after application of disc tissue. Our findings show that frozen disc tissue stimulates the metabolism of osteoblast-like cells in vitro.     

The influence of human intervertebral disc tissue on the metabolism of osteoblast-like cells

Extensive studies have been performed to evaluate different factors that may affect on spinal interbody fusion, but the role of intervertebral disc tissue in the fusion process remains unclear. To study the influence of intervertebral disc tissue on osteoblast metabolism, we harvested disc tissue from patients who had undergone spinal surgery. The nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus were separately co-cultured with osteoblast-like cells SaOS-2 by means of culture inserts or organ culture. We assayed alkaline phosphoatase activity, 3H-thymidine incorporation into the DNA, and production of collagen type I, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha. Exposure of the nucleus pulposus (NP) to osteoblast-like cells revealed stimulation of alkaline phosphatase production, 3H-thymidine incorporation and collagen type I production. Exposure of the annulus fibrosus (AF) stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation and collagen type I production, but did not affect ALP activity. IL-6 was detected after application of NP and AF. Interleukin IL-10, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were all below detection levels after application of disc tissue. Our findings show that frozen disc tissue stimulates the metabolism of osteoblast-like cells in vitro.     

Combined effects of low-level laser therapy and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium on viability of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a high-glucose medium

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) exhibited biostimulatory effects on fibroblasts viability. Secretomes can be administered to culture mediums by using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium (BM-MSCs CM). This study investigated the combined effects of LLLT and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium (hBM-MSCs CM) on the cellular viability of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), which was cultured in a high-glucose (HG) concentration medium. The HDFs were cultured either in a concentration of physiologic (normal) glucose (NG; 5.5 mM/l) or in HG media (15 mM/l) for 4 days. LLLT was performed with a continuous-wave helium-neon laser (632.8 nm, power density of 0.00185 W/cm² and energy densities of 0.5, 1, and 2 J/cm²). About 10 % of hBM-MSCs CM was added to the HG HDF culture medium. The viability of HDFs was evaluated using dimethylthiazol-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A significantly higher cell viability was observed when laser of either 0.5 or 1 J/cm² was used to treat HG HDFs, compared to the control groups. The cellular viability of HG-treated HDFs was significantly lower compared to the LLLT?+?HG HDFs, hBM-MSCs CM-treated HG HDFs, and LLLT?+?hBM-MSCs CM-treated HG HDFs. In conclusion, hBM-MSCs CM or LLLT alone increased the survival of HG HDFs cells. However, the combination of hBM-MSCs CM and LLLT improved these results in comparison to the conditioned medium.     

骨髓间充质干细胞在骨组织工程中的研究进展

间允质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)主要存在于骨髓中,此外还分别从骨骼肌,软骨膜,骨外膜,骨小梁,脐带血和外周血中分离出,它具有向骨、软骨、脂肪、肌肉、肌腱、真皮、骨髓基质、成心肌细胞和神经细胞等组织分化的潜能。骨髓MSCs具有以下特点：1取材方便且对机体无害2由它诱导而来的组织在进行移植时不存在组织配型及免疫排斥的问题     

Therapeutic effect of co-culture of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and degenerated nucleus pulposus cells on intervertebral disc degeneration

BackgroundAfter non-contact co-culture of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), exosomes secreted by BMSCs were able to ameliorate the degree of disc degeneration. The reason for this is, at least in part, that exosomes from BMSCs achieve by affecting the level of autophagy in NPCs, while the components in exosomes are diverse and their specific mechanism of action is still unclear.PurposeHere, we aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of co-culture of BMSCs and NPCs on NPCs and explore its specific mechanism of action.Study design/SettingIn vitro study.MethodsRat NPCs and BMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. The serum deprivation experiment (using oxygen, glucose, and serum deprivation [OGD]) simulates the pathological state of low blood supply of the intervertebral disc in vivo. We used apoptotic cell staining and flow cytometry to study the effect of BMSCs on the apoptosis rate of rat NPCs, and the apoptotic proteins active-caspase-3, active-caspase-9, autophagy marker proteins LC3 and Beclin 1 were further detected using Western blot analysis. The expression levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and the apoptosis-inhibiting protein Bcl2 were measured. The differentially expressed miRNAs were screened in a gene expression profiling chip. Then qRT-PCR was used to detect the effect of different treatment methods on miR-155 expression. The effect of anti-miR-155 antibodies on autophagy was studied by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy. A luciferase reporter assay was used to study the direct interaction between miR-155 and BACH1 mRNA, which was analyzed by TargetScan software, and the results were verified by Western blotting.ResultsCompared with the OGD group, the expression level of miR-155 and the NPC autophagy level significantly increased; the HO-1 protein expression increased; and the Bach1 protein expression, degeneration index, and apoptosis index all significantly decreased in the co-culture group. After BMSCs transfected with anti-miR-155 were co-cultured with NPCs, the miR-155 expression in the cells was significantly reduced, the HO-1 protein expression and the level of cell autophagy was reduced. However, Bach1 protein expression, NPC degeneration index, and apoptosis index increased. After being inhibited by the autophagy inhibitor wortmannin, the cell degeneration index and apoptosis rate significantly improved.ConclusionIn the OGD model, BMSCs can significantly increase the viability, the level of autophagy, and reduce the level of apoptosis in rat NPCs. BMSC exosomes increase miR-155 expression in NPCs, which targets Bach1 and in turn upregulates HO-1 expression, activates autophagy in NPCs, inhibits the apoptosis level, and improves intervertebral disc degeneration.Clinical SignificanceOur experiment shows that it is maybe feasible to treat disc degeneration with drugs. At the same time, compared with BMSC injection method of treatment, side effects of drug therapy are smaller, and can be controlled, it also provides a new way for intervertebral disc degeneration drug treatment.     

Human mesenchymal stem cell co-culture modulates the immunological properties of human intervertebral disc tissue fragments in vitro

The capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into intervertebral disc (IVD)-like cells has been well described, but their ability to modulate the inflammatory processes in the IVD remains unclear. We found that tissue obtained by discectomy of degenerated and post-traumatic IVD contains significant amounts of IgG antibodies, a sign of lymphocyte infiltration. Further we investigated whether MSCs in vitro, which were characterized for their multilineage differentiation potential and may have immunomodulatory effects on IVD fragments. IVD fragments were co-cultured in contact with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and MSCs, and as functional controls we used contact co-cultures of PBLs stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (2.5 μg/mL) and MSCs. The time course of lymphocyte proliferation (Alamar Blue), IgG (ELISA) and gene expression (RT-PCR) of anti-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-β1, IL-10) by MSCs and pro-inflammatory molecules (IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α) by the IVD fragments were analyzed. Depending on the response to the presence of MSCs, the IVD fragments (n = 13) were divided in two groups: responders (n = 9), where inflammation was inhibited by MSCs and non-responders (n = 4), where MSCs did not decrease inflammation. At 1 week in co-culture, MSCs reduced significantly the IgG production in the IVD responders group to 69% and PBLs proliferation to 57% of the control. MSCs expression of the anti-inflammatory TGF-β1 increased with time, while IL-10 was expressed only at day 1. IVD gene expression of TNF-α decreased constantly, whereas IL-1α and IL-1β expression increased. In conclusion, these data suggest that MSCs may modulate disc-specific inflammatory and pain status and aid regeneration of the host tissue.     

重组BMP-4对兔骨髓基质干细胞生物学行为的影响

目的应用原核细胞基因工程方法生产出有活性的骨形态发生蛋白-4(bonemorphoge-neticprotein-4,BMP-4),观察其对骨髓基质干细胞生物学行为的影响。方法利用RT-PCR技术,从成熟的人胎盘组织中扩增出长0.34kb编码人BMP-4成熟肽的基因序列,装入表达载体pET-22b( ),转化大肠杆菌BL-21菌株,并诱导目的蛋白表达,SDS-PAGE检测表达蛋白。获得的蛋白制品经小鼠异位成骨测活证实后,诱导培养的兔骨髓基质干细胞,观测细胞形态变化、碱性磷酸酶和骨钙素的含量。结果大肠杆菌中目的蛋白表达量达菌体蛋白的15%,该蛋白可诱导骨髓基质干细胞向成骨细胞分化,形成钙结节,碱性磷酸酶和骨钙素的含量也明显增加。结论大肠杆菌可表达出有活性的BMP-4,该蛋白可诱导骨髓基质干细胞向成骨细胞分化。     

Mesenchymal stem cell content of human vertebral bone marrow

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of down-regulating alloimmune responses and promoting the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells. MSCs may therefore be suitable for improving donor-specific tolerance induction in solid-organ transplantation. Cells from cadaveric vertebral bone marrow (V-BM), aspirated iliac crest-BM, and peripheral blood progenitor cells were compared. Cells were characterized by flow cytometry and colony assays. MSCs generated from V-BM were assayed for differentiation capacity and immunomodulatory function. A median 5.7 x 10(8) nucleated cells (NCs) were recovered per vertebral body. The mesenchymal progenitor, colony-forming unit-fibroblast, frequency in V-BM (11.6/10(5) NC, range: 6.0-20.0) was considerably higher than in iliac crest-BM (1.4/10(5) NC, range: 0.4-2.6) and peripheral blood progenitor cells (not detectable). MSC generated from V-BM had the typical MSC phenotype (CD105(pos)CD73(pos)CD45(neg)CD34(neg)), displayed multilineage differentiation potential, and suppressed alloreactivity in mixed lymphocyte reactions. V-BM may be an excellent source for MSC cotransplantation approaches.     

大鼠组织提取液对体外培养骨髓基质细胞的影响

目的研究大鼠脑组织成份和其它组织提取液对体外培养骨髓基质细胞(bonemarrowstromalcells,BMSC)的影响。方法提取大鼠全脑、灰质、白质、垂体、肌肉、肝脏等组织液,进行原代骨髓基质细胞培养,观察并测定其ALP染色阳性率。以空白培养液作对照,观察大鼠各组织提取液对骨髓基质细胞增殖,分化,矿化的作用。结果(1)各组织提取液对原代骨髓基质细胞培养后,其ALP染色阳性率以灰质和全脑组最高,其次是白质和肌肉组。(2)除肝脏组外其余各组织提取液对BMSC均有不同程度的增殖刺激作用,以灰质最强,其它依次为肌肉、白质、全脑与血清组,肝脏组则显示对BMSC增殖有抑制作用。(3)肝脏组对BMSC具有分化抑制作用,其它各组均显示分化刺激作用,增加程度依次为灰质、全脑、白质、肌肉与血清。(4)灰质组的矿化结节形成率最高,其它依次为全脑、白质、肌肉与血清。结论大鼠脑组织中的灰质提取液能显著刺激原代骨髓基质细胞增殖,且向成骨细胞诱导分化,并且在二代以后的BMSC培养中,表现出最强的刺激增殖、向成骨细胞分化和体外矿化的能力。     

Cytokine profile of a human bone marrow cell culture on exposure to titanium-aluminium-vanadium particles

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to prove the effect of wear particles, especially Tivanium, in the mechanism of the aseptic loosening of total joint prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Therefore, human bone marrow cell cultures were incubated with titanium-aluminium-vanadium particles of different concentrations which were added after the seventh day of culture (10(9), 10(8), 10(7), 10(6) particles per ml medium). From this time starts the real culture period (2 weeks). During these two weeks the medium was changed and the supernatants were sampled. Using an ELISA the cytokine levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-1beta, TNF-alpha and LDH were measured approximately every second day (1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14). As a marker for toxicity the activity of LDH was determined. RESULTS: Incubation of a human bone marrow cell culture with titanium-aluminium-vanadium particles led to a maximum release of interleukin-6, interleukin-1beta, and TNF-alpha at high particle concentration (10(9) particles per ml medium). An increase of interleukin-1beta was only detectable at particle concentrations of 10(9) per ml medium. Exposure of the human bone marrow cell culture to titanium-aluminium-vanadium particles was toxic for high particle concentrations (10(9) particles per ml medium), as reflected by release of the intracellular enzyme LDH. DISCUSSION: This study shows the ability of tivanium wear particles in a human bone marrow cell culture to induce a signfically higher release of proinflammatory and osteolytic mediators which are responsible for the aseptic loosening of prosthesis and the problem of revisions. In comparison to other cell studies, our results were explained by the human bone marrow cell culture. The human bone marrow is the real effector tissue source "in situ" because the prosthesis is localised intramedullarly.     

Physical limitations to tissue engineering of intervertebral disc cells: effect of extracellular osmotic change on glycosaminoglycan production and cell metabolism. Laboratory investigation

OBJECT: In this study, the authors examined how physiological levels of extracellular osmolality influence proteoglycan accumulation in nucleus pulposus cells in a 3D culture system. METHODS: Cells were isolated from the nucleus pulposus of caudal discs obtained from 18- to 24-month-old bovines. They were cultured for 6 days in alginate beads at 4 million cells/ml in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium containing 6% fetal bovine serum under 21% O2. Medium osmolality was altered by NaCl addition between 270 and 570 mOsm and monitored using a freezing point osmometer. The cell viability profile was determined by manual counting after trypan blue staining. Profiles across intact beads were determined by manual counting by using fluorescent probes and a transmission electron microscope. Lactate production was measured enzymatically, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation was measured using a dimethylmethylene blue assay. Rate of sulfate GAG synthesis was measured using a standard [35S]sulfate radioactive method. RESULTS: The cell viability was similar for the high- and low-osmolality cultures. However, confocal microscopy showed that the cells were the largest at 270 mOsm and became smaller with increasing osmotic pressure. The GAG production was largest at 370 mOsm, the capacity for GAG production and cell metabolism (lactate production) was low under hypoosmolality and hyperosmolality, and cell death was observed on electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: In the authors' model, the prevailing osmolality was a powerful regulator of GAG accumulation by cultured nucleus cells. Thus, these results indicate that GAG synthesis rates are regulated by GAG concentration, with implications both for the cause of degeneration and for tissue engineering.     

骨髓基质细胞条件培养液中神经活性物质的提取与纯化

目的分离纯化骨髓基质细胞(bone marrow strolnal cells，BMSCs)条件培养液以获得某些神经活性物质。方法分离培养小鼠骨髓基质细胞并收集其培养液，超滤浓缩后采用Sephadex G-100层析，高效液相色谱分析(HPLC)和十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶不连续电泳(SDS-PAGE)等技术分离其培养液中的蛋白组分并利用细胞培养技术验证其神经活性作用。结果骨髓基质细胞培养液经Sephadex G-100层析及HPLC分析，证实Ⅲ峰中的A峰和B峰对神经细胞生长有明显的促进作用，其相对分子质量分别为18000和14000。结论骨髓基质细胞条件培养液中相对分子质量为18000和14000两组分对神经元有营养活性。     

脊索细胞培养基促进BMSCs增殖分化的研究

目的为研究椎间盘组织工程种子细胞,观察脊索细胞培养基对BMSCs增殖分化的影响。方法取4周龄日本大耳白兔胸腰段椎间盘分离培养脊索细胞,取双侧股骨分离培养BMSCs,用含15%FBS的DMEM/F12培养基培养脊索细胞,5 d后制备脊索细胞培养基。实验分为两组,实验组BMSCs中加入脊索细胞培养基培养,对照组BMSCs中加入含15%FBS的DMEM/F12培养基培养。使用细胞活力细胞毒性检测检测细胞增殖情况,采用免疫荧光及实时荧光定量PCR检测BMSCs蛋白多糖及Ⅱ型胶原表达情况。结果成功分离脊索细胞及BMSCs。细胞增殖检测示,培养5、7、9、14 d,实验组细胞数量明显多于对照组(P<0.05)。免疫荧光检测示对照组培养7、14 d细胞内均无或者有较少Ⅱ型胶原及蛋白多糖表达,实验组二者均有较多表达,且培养14 d时表达明显多于7 d。实时荧光定量PCR检测示,培养7、14 d实验组蛋白多糖和Ⅱ型胶原mRNA表达均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);实验组14 d蛋白多糖和Ⅱ型胶原mRNA表达显著高于7 d(P<0.05)。结论脊索细胞培养基可促进BMSCs增殖,并诱导BMSCs向类软骨细胞分化,为脊索细胞和BMSCs作为种子细胞治疗椎间盘退变提供了依据。     

脂肪来源与骨髓来源的基质干细胞的比较

目的 比较脂肪基质干细胞（ASC）与骨髓基质干细胞（MSC），为ASC的细胞移植治疗提供实验依据。方法 分离培养脂肪组织来源的ASC、分离培养骨髓组织来源的MSC，培养至14d时，对贴壁细胞再次计数，当细胞融合达到80％时，胰蛋白酶消化传代培养，取第3～4代细胞进行分析。观察培养前后两种细胞的形态并计数，流式细胞仪分析两种细胞的表面抗原表达，混合淋巴细胞反应及淋巴细胞转化实验比较两种细胞的免疫原性。结果 ASC与MSC细胞表面抗原表达基本相似，但也存在差别，ASC为CD49d^＋CD106^-，而MSC为CD49d^-CD106^＋。ASC与MSC都能抑制淋巴细胞增殖，且这种抑制作用与其数量呈正相关。但相同数量的ASC和MSC对淋巴细胞的抑制作用无明显差别。结论 ASC和MSC在细胞表面抗原、免疫原性等方面相似，这为进一步利用ASC移植治疗疾病的研究提供了依据。