Regenerative Response of Degenerate Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells to GDF6 Stimulation.

ABSTRACT: Growth differentiation factor (GDF) family members have been implicated in the development and maintenance of healthy nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue, making them promising therapeutic candidates for treatment of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and associated back pain. GDF6 has been shown to promote discogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, but its effect on NP cells remains largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate GDF6 signalling in adult human NP cells derived from degenerate tissue and determine the signal transduction pathways critical for GDF6-mediated phenotypic changes and tissue homeostatic mechanisms. This study demonstrates maintained expression of GDF6 receptors in human NP and annulus fibrosus (AF) cells across a range of degeneration grades at gene and prot

SUBMITTER: Hodgkinson T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7582366 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature