Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the effect of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) compound injective thermo-sensitive chitosan scaffold transplantation on content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in early degenerate lumbar intervertebral disc of rabbits. Methods24 white New Zealand rabbits (no limit of male or female) were randomly and equally divided into 4 groups: A. Degeneration model group: nucleus aspiration. B. ADSCs compound chitosan transplantation group. C. Cell-free chitosan transplantation group. D. Blank control group: only explore the target intervertebral disc. When aspirate pulposus with 21G needle, inject ADSCs-scaffold complex and chitosan scaffold respectively. The samples of L_2-3, L_3-4, L_4-5, L_5-6 intervertebral disc were obtained from 2 rabit in each group 2, 4, 8 weeks after operation. The contents of TNF-α, IL-1β were measured with ELISA. ResultsAll animals survived after the operation. Compare with the blank control group, the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β in degeneration model group increased significantly (P＜0.05). It decreased significantly (P＜0.05) in ADSCs compound chitosan transplantation group and cell-free chitosan transplantation group compared to model group. IL-1β decreased significantly (P＜0.05) 8 week after operation in ADSCs compound chitosan transplantation group compared to cell-free chitosan transplantation group. ConclusionADSCs compound injective thermo-sensitive chitosan scaffold transplantation in early degenerate lumbar intervertebral disc could decrease the content of TNF-α, IL-1β, and may regulate the inflammatory response.

Key words: intervertebral disc degeneration, tissue engineering, adipose-derived stem cells, chitosan, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β