Dataset Information

Molecular phenotypes of notochordal cells purified from immature nucleus pulposus.

ABSTRACT: The immature nucleus pulposus (NP) is populated by cells of notochordal-origin that are larger and contain an extensive cytoskeletal network and numerous vacuoles. The disappearance of these cells with age is believed important in regulating metabolic shifts that may contribute to age-related disc degeneration. The precise biological function of these notochordal cells in the immature NP remains unclear, however, because of challenges in studying the mixed cell population in the NP. In this study, notochordal-like cells were purified from immature NP cells using a new fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) protocol with auto-fluorescence and size analysis. The unique molecular phenotypes of sorted notochordal-like cells were characterized by the mRNA expression pattern for key matrix proteins and modulators, and by the expression of cell-matrix receptor integrin subunits. An FACS analysis showed that the immature NP contained a majority of cells that were larger than anulus fibrosus (AF) cells and with fluorescence higher than AF cells. In comparison with the small NP cells separated by the FACS protocol, sorted notochordal-like cells expressed lower mRNA levels of type I collagen, biglycan, TIMP1, HSP70 and c-fos, and did not express detectable mRNA levels of decorin, lumican, multiple MMPs or IL-1beta via real-time quantitative RT-PCR. A greater number of these notochordal-like cells also expressed the higher levels of alpha6, alpha1 and beta1 integrin subunits as compared to small NP cells. Together, our results point towards a unique molecular phenotype for these notochordal-like cells of NP, characterized by the absence of gene expression for specific small proteoglycans and higher protein expression of integrin subunits that regulate interactions with collagens and laminin. Future studies will be important for revealing if this unique molecular profile is coordinated with functional differences in pericellular matrix regions and/or integrin-mediated cell-matrix interactions for these notochordal-like cells within the NP.

SUBMITTER: Chen J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2335373 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Molecular phenotypes of notochordal cells purified from immature nucleus pulposus.

Chen Jun J Yan Wei W Setton Lori A LA

European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society 20060318

The immature nucleus pulposus (NP) is populated by cells of notochordal-origin that are larger and contain an extensive cytoskeletal network and numerous vacuoles. The disappearance of these cells with age is believed important in regulating metabolic shifts that may contribute to age-related disc degeneration. The precise biological function of these notochordal cells in the immature NP remains unclear, however, because of challenges in studying the mixed cell population in the NP. In this stud ...[more]

PMID: 16547755

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Project description:Conditioned medium derived from notochordal cell-rich nucleus pulposus tissue (NCCM) was previously shown to have a stimulatory effect on bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) individually, in mixed species in vitro cell models. The objective of the current study was to assess the stimulatory effect of NCCM on NPCs in a homologous canine in vitro model and to investigate whether combined stimulation with NCCM and addition of BMSCs provides a synergistic stimulatory effect.BMSCs and NPCs were harvested from chondrodystrophic dogs with confirmed early intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. NCCM was produced from NP tissue of nonchondrodystrophic dogs with healthy IVDs. BMSCs or NPCs alone (3×10(6) cells/mL) and NPCs+BMSCs (6×10(6) cells/mL; mixed 1:1) were cultured for 4 weeks in 1.2% alginate beads under base medium (BM), NCCM, or with addition of 10?ng/mL transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1) as a positive control. Beads were assessed for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and DNA contents by biochemical assays, GAG deposition by Alcian blue staining, and gene expression (aggrecan, versican, collagen 1 and 2, SOX9, A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5), and matrix metalloproteinase 13 [MMP13]) with real-time quantitative RT-PCR.NCCM increased NPC proliferation, proteoglycan production, and expression of genes associated with a healthy NP-like phenotype. BMSCs also showed increased proteoglycan production under NCCM, but these effects were not observed at the gene level. Combined stimulation of NPCs with NCCM and coculturing with BMSCs did not result in increased proteoglycan content compared to stimulation with NCCM alone.NCCM stimulates matrix production by both NPCs and BMSCs and directs NPCs toward a healthier phenotype. NCCM is therefore promising for IVD regeneration and identification of the bioactive components will be helpful to further develop this approach. In the current study, no synergistic effect of adding BMSCs was observed.

Project description:The relative resistance of non-chondrodystrophic (NCD) canines to degenerative disc disease (DDD) may be due to a combination of anabolic and anti-catabolic factors secreted by notochordal cells within the intervertebral disc (IVD) nucleus pulposus (NP). Factors known to induce DDD include interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and/or Fas-Ligand (Fas-L). Therefore we evaluated the ability of notochordal cell conditioned medium (NCCM) to protect NP cells from IL-1ß and IL-1ß +FasL-mediated cell death and degeneration.We cultured bovine NP cells with IL-1ß or IL-1ß+FasL under hypoxic serum-free conditions (3.5% O2) and treated the cells with either serum-free NCCM or basal medium (Advanced DMEM/F-12). We used flow cytometry to evaluate cell death and real-time (RT-)PCR to determine the gene expression of aggrecan, collagen 2, and link protein, mediators of matrix degradation ADAMTS-4 and MMP3, the matrix protection molecule TIMP1, the cluster of differentiation (CD)44 receptor, the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and Ank. We then determined the expression of specific apoptotic pathways in bovine NP cells by characterizing the expression of activated caspases-3, -8 and -9 in the presence of IL-1ß+FasL when cultured with NCCM, conditioned medium obtained using bovine NP cells (BCCM), and basal medium all supplemented with 2% FBS.NCCM inhibits bovine NP cell death and apoptosis via suppression of activated caspase-9 and caspase-3/7. Furthermore, NCCM protects NP cells from the degradative effects of IL-1ß and IL-1ß+Fas-L by up-regulating the expression of anabolic/matrix protective genes (aggrecan, collagen type 2, CD44, link protein and TIMP-1) and down-regulating matrix degrading genes such as MMP-3. Expression of ADAMTS-4, which encodes a protein for aggrecan remodeling, is increased. NCCM also protects against IL-1+FasL-mediated down-regulation of Ank expression. Furthermore, NP cells treated with NCCM in the presence of IL-1ß+Fas-L down-regulate the expression of IL-6 by almost 50%. BCCM does not mediate cell death/apoptosis in target bovine NP cells.Notochordal cell-secreted factors suppress NP cell death by inhibition of activated caspase-9 and -3/7 activity and by up-regulating genes contributing anabolic activity and matrix protection of the IVD NP. Harnessing the restorative powers of the notochordal cell could lead to novel cellular and molecular strategies in the treatment of DDD.

Project description:Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have shown promising potential to stop intervertebral disc degeneration in several animal models. In order to restore a healthy state, though, this potential should be further stimulated. Notochordal cells (NCs), influential in disc development, have been shown to stimulate BMSC differentiation, but it is unclear how this effect will translate in an environment where resident disc cells (nucleus pulposus cells [NPCs]) could also influence BMSCs. The goal of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the effects of NCs on BMSCs when cocultured with NPCs, in a simplified 3D in vitro system. Bovine BMSCs and NPCs were mixed (Mix) and seeded into alginate beads. Using culture inserts, the Mix was then cocultured with porcine NCs (alginate beads) and compared to coculture with empty beads or porcine skin fibroblasts (SFs, alginate beads). NPCs alone were also cocultured with NCs, and BMSCs alone cultured under chondrogenic conditions. The effects of coculture conditions on cell viability, matrix production (proteoglycan and collagen), and gene expression of disc markers (aggrecan, type II collagen, and SOX9) were assessed after 4 weeks of culture. The NC phenotype and gene expression profile were also analyzed. Coculture with NCs did not significantly influence cell viability, proteoglycan production, or disc marker gene expression of the Mix. When compared to NPCs, the Mix produced the same amount of proteoglycan and displayed a higher expression of disc marker, indicating a stimulation of the BMSCs (and/or NPCs) in the Mix. Additionally, during the 4 weeks of culture, the NC phenotype changed drastically (morphology, gene expression profile). These results show that NCs might not be as stimulatory for BMSCs in an NPC-rich environment, as believed from individual cultures. This absence of effects could be explained by a mild stimulation provided by (de)differentiating NCs and the costimulation of BMSCs and NPCs by each other.

Project description:Notochordal cells (NCs) are influential in development of the intervertebral disc (IVD) and species that retain NCs do not degenerate. IVD repair using bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is an attractive approach and the harsh microenvironment of the IVD suggests pre-differentiation is a necessary first step. The goal of this study was to use soluble factors from NCs in alginate and NCs in their native tissue to differentiate human MSCs to a young nucleus pulposus (NP) phenotype.Human MSCs (cultured under micromass conditions for 21 days in hypoxia) were differentiated with conditioned medium derived from porcine notochordal cells in native tissue (NCT) or in alginate beads (NCA), and compared with chondrogenic (TGF?-3) or basal medium. A PCR array of 42 genes was utilized to screen a large number of genes known to be associated with the healthy NP phenotype and pellet cultures were also evaluated for glycosaminoglycan content, histology and viability. Proteomic analysis was used to assess candidate soluble factors in NCA and NCT.Notochordal cell conditioned media had diverse effects on MSC phenotype. NCT resulted in the highest levels of glycosaminoglycan (GAG), as well as up-regulation of SOX9 and Collagen II gene expression. NCA demonstrated effects that were catabolic yet also anti-fibrotic and minimally hypertrophic with down-regulation of Collagens I and III and low levels of Collagen X, respectively. Micromass culture and hypoxic conditions were sufficient to promote chondrogenesis demonstrating that both basal and chondrogenic media produced similar phenotypes. Candidate matricellular proteins, clusterin and tenascin were identified by proteomics in the NCA group.NCs secreted important soluble factors capable of differentiating MSCs to a NP phenotype synthesizing high levels of proteoglycan while also resisting collagen fiber expression and hypertrophy, yet results were sensitive to the conditions in which media was generated (cells in alginate versus cells in their native tissue) so that further mechanistic studies optimizing culture conditions and defining important NC secreted factors are required. Matricellular proteins, such as clusterin and tenascin, are likely to be important to optimize differentiation of MSCs for maximum GAG production and reduced collagen fiber expression.

Dataset Information

Molecular phenotypes of notochordal cells purified from immature nucleus pulposus.

Publications

Molecular phenotypes of notochordal cells purified from immature nucleus pulposus.

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