Cryopreserved multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells stimulate reparative chondrogenesis in degenerated intervertebral disc

The choice object for cell therapy of degenerative changes of the intervertebral discs is a cryopreserved multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSC). The research aim was to evaluate a therapeutic potential of cryopreserved allogenic marrow-derived MMSC in this pathology. Rats with modeled compressive degenerative damage of the intervertebral disc CcVI-VII were introduced by 0.5x10 B native or cryopreserved as well as PKH-26-labeled cells on a collagen sponge in the defect area. Animals with spontaneous recovery and administration of saline were served as a control. Histomorphometric study and fluorescent microscopy of intervertebral disc sections was performed on the 30th day after treatment. There was extremely low regenerative potential in the control groups of animals. Histologically after cell therapy, there was tendency to repair of cracks, fissures, collagen fiber fragmentations of the fibrous ring, which was more pronounced in the case of the native MMSC culture application. The cryopreserved MMSC administration was accompanied by increasing in the fibrochondrocyte number of the dorsal annulus per unit area of the intervertebral disc CcVI-VII slice at 1.25 times relative to the model values. At the same time the fibrous ring height increased by 12.5±3.3%, and densitometric index of cartilaginous tissue — by 64±5.7% relative to the model values. The luminescence in the red range of the spectrum in the form of drops and conglomerates, which was localized in outer parts of fibrous ring, was detected by fluorescent microscopy of intervertebral disc cryostat sections on the 30 day after introduction of labeled native or cryopreserved MMSC, that indicated the safety and partial migration of transplanted and/ or their daughter cells in the intervertebral disc CcVI-VII. Our data showed a stimulating effect of native and cryopreserved marrow-derived MMSC suspension in degenerative intervertebral disc damages.

intervertebral disk, degenerative damage, cartilaginous tissue, multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, cryopreservation, cell therapy