Comparison of biological characteristics of nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells derived from non-degenerative and degenerative human nucleus pulposus

Cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells provides a promising approach for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). In recent years, human nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs) have been identified in nucleus pulposus tissue and displayed great potential for the regeneration of IDD. However, biological differences between non-degenerative and degenerative nucleus pulposus-derived NPMSCs have remained to be defined. The aim of the present study was to compare the biological characteristics of human NPMSCs derived from non-degenerative and degenerative nucleus pulposus. NPMSCs were isolated from non-degenerative and degenerative nucleus pulposus, which were assessed using the Pfirrmann grading system. The biological characteristics of the NPMSCs, including the expression of surface markers, multipotent differentiation, colony formation, chemotactic cell migration, cell activity and stemness gene expression were compared. It was found that NPMSCs could be obtained from non-degenerative and degenerative human nucleus pulposus. However, degenerative nucleus pulposus-derived NPMSCs displayed decreased ability of colony formation, chemotactic migration, cell activity and expression of stemness genes compared with non-degenerative nucleus pulposus-derived NPMSCs. Therefore, NPMSCs derived from non-degenerative and degenerative nucleus pulposus show different biological behaviors. The degenerative status of nucleus pulposus tissue should be considered when selecting NPMSCs as a source for clinical application.