UNASSIGNED: @entity179 ( @entity179 ) primarily affects the central part of the intervertebral disc namely the nucleus pulposus (NP). @entity179 explains about 40% of @entity1643 and is characterized by massive cellular alterations that ultimately result in the disappearance of resident NP cells. Thus, repopulating the NP with regenerative cells is a promising therapeutic approach and remains a great challenge. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential of growth factor-driven protocols to commit @entity1 adipose stromal cells (hASCs) towards NP-like cell phenotype and the involvement of Smad proteins in this differentiation process. Here, we demonstrate that the @entity2533 and the @entity26885 factors synergistically drive the nucleopulpogenic differentiation process. The commitment of the hASCs was robust and highly specific as attested by the expression of NP-related genes characteristic of young healthy @entity1 NP cells. In addition, the engineered NP-like cells secreted an abundant aggrecan and type II collagen rich extracellular matrix comparable to that of native NP. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these in vitro engineered cells survived, maintained their specialized phenotype and secretory activity after in vivo transplantation in @entity19 subcutis. Finally, we provide evidence suggesting that the @entity14877 pathway mainly governed the acquisition of the NP cell molecular identity while the @entity12208 /8 pathway controlled the NP cell morphology. This study offers valuable insights for the development of biologically-inspired treatments for @entity179 by generating adapted and exhaustively characterized autologous regenerative cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

XXXX and @entity26885 act synergistically to drive the differentiation of @entity1 adipose stromal cells towards Nucleus pulposus -like cells.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity1643 :: ('MESH:D017116', 'Disease') :: ['low back pain'] @entity26885 :: ('8200', 'Gene') :: ['GDF5'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['nude mice'] @entity2533 :: ('7040', 'Gene') :: ['TGF-b1'] @entity179 :: ('MESH:D019636', 'Disease') :: ['Degenerative disc disease', 'DDD'] @entity12208 :: ('4086;4090', 'Gene') :: ['Smad1/5'] @entity14877 :: ('4087;4088', 'Gene') :: ['Smad 2/3']
@entity2533 :: (7040,Gene) :: ['TGF-b1']
