Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2, But Not Mesenchymal Stromal Cells, Exert Regenerative Effects on Canine and Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells.

Chronic back pain is related to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and dogs are employed as animal models to develop growth factor- and cell-based regenerative treatments. In this respect, the differential effects of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) on canine and human chondrocyte-like cells (CLCs) derived from the nucleus pulposus of degenerated IVDs were studied. Human and canine CLCs were cultured in 3D microaggregates in basal culture medium supplemented with/without TGF-β (10 ng/mL) or BMP2 (100 or 250 ng/mL).