초록 |
In our study, we have investigated the co-culture conditions to differentiate ASCs into nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in cell therapy of intervertebral disc diseases. The specific aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of the condition of co-cultured NPCs and the type of co-culture systems on differentiation of ASCs into NPCs. NPCs from 14 patients were classified into normal and degenerative group depending on the scoring intensity of Col 2, Aggrecan, Col I, and BAX expression. After the co-culture with ASCs, normal NPCs successfully induced NP-like cells from ASCs, while the ASCs co-cultured with degenerative NPCs did not express genes related to the phenotype of NPCs (COL2 and Aggrecan) irrespective of the type of co-culture systems. |