Immunomodulation of mesenchymal stem cells in discogenic pain

Publication date: February 2018
Source:The Spine Journal, Volume 18, Issue 2
Author(s): Laura Miguélez-Rivera, Saúl Pérez-Castrillo, Maria Luisa González-Fernández, Julio Gabriel Prieto-Fernández, María Elisa López-González, José García-Cosamalón, Vega Villar-Suárez
Background ContextBack pain is a highly prevalent health problem in the world today and has a great economic impact on health-care budgets. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration has been identified as a main cause of back pain. Inflammatory cytokines produced by macrophages or disc cells in an inflammatory environment play an important role in painful progressive degeneration of IVD. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown to have immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. Mesenchymal stem cells express a variety of chemokines and cytokines receptors having tropism to inflammation sites.PurposeThis study aimed to develop an in vitro controlled and standardized model of inflammation and degeneration of IVD with rat cells and to evaluate the protective and immunomodulatory effect of conditioned medium (CM) from the culture of MSCs to improve the conditions presented in herniated disc and discogenic pain processes.Study DesignThis is an experimental study.MethodsIn this study, an in vitro model of inflammation and degeneration of IVD has been developed, as well as the effectiveness of CM from the culture of MSCs.ResultsConditioned medium from MSCs downregulated the expression of various proinflammatory cytokines produced in the pathogenesis of discogenic pain such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).ConclusionMesenchymal stem cells represent a promising alternative strategy in the treatment of IVD degeneration inasmuch as there is currently no treatment which leads to a complete remission of long-term pain in the absence of drugs.



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