Degeneration of the intervertebral disk is a major pathological process implicated in low back pain. The causes of low back pain have been suggested to involve genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors [1, 2]. The anulus fibrosus makes up peripheral portion of disk structure, composed of fibrocartilage and type I and II collagen. Cells of the intervertebral disc are influenced by both biophysical and mechanical factors in their local environment. The anulus fibrosus cells can be stimulated by interleukin 1 beta to produce factors implicated in local degradative and inflammatory processes [3]. Although mechanical stress is an important modulator of the degeneration, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. The human annulus firosus cell culture provides an in vitro model for the study of cellular and molecular events involved in disc degeneration, tissue engineering and cell therapy for spine disc disorders.
HAPC from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from annulus fibrosus of human invertibral disc. HAPC are cryopreserved at primary or passage one culture and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HAPC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to fibronectin and vimentin. HAPC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HAPC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings in the condition provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.
Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use nucleus pulposus cell medium (NPCM, Cat. No. 4801) for the culturing of HAPC in vitro.
Product Use
HAPC are for research use only. It is not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.
Storage
Directly and immediately transfer cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen upon receiving and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until cell culture needed for experiments.
Shipping
Dry ice.
Reference
[1]. Pincus T, Burton AK, Vogel S, Field AP: A systematic review of psychological factors as predictors of chronicity/disability in prospective cohorts of low back pain. Spine 2002, 27:109-120
[2]. Rannou F, Corvol MT, Hudry C, Anract P, Dumontier MF, Tsagris L, Revel M, Poiraudeau S (2000) Sensitivity of anulus fibrosus cells to interleukin 1 beta. Comparison with articular chondrocytes. Spine 25(1):17-23.
[3]. Annunen S, Paassilta P, Lohiniva J, Perala M, Pihlajamaa T, Karppinen J, Tervonen O, Kroger H, Lahde S, Vanharanta H, Ryhanen L, Goring HH, Ott J, Prockop DJ, Ala-Kokko L: An allele of COL9A2 associated with intervertebral disc disease. Science 1999, 285:409-412.