BMP-3 promotes matrix production in cocultured stem cells and disc cells from low back pain patients.

Low back pain is one of the most common disorders and believed to be due to intervertebral discs (IVDs) degeneration. Transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) is suggested as potential treatment option. BMP-3 growth factor promotes chondrogenesis and is proven effective in enhancing chondrogenesis in hMSCs pretreated with IL-1beta in hydrogel model. 3D co-cultures of hMSCs and disc cells (DCs) have previously been demonstrated to result in increased proteoglycan production. The aim was to study the effects of BMP-3 on hMSCs, DCs as well as hMSCs and DCs in co-culture in a pellet system, both as single treatment and after pre-treatment (PRE-T) of IL-1β. Cell pellet cultures with hMSCs, DCs and co-culture (1:1 ratio) were performed and stimulated with BMP-3 at 1ng/mL or 10ng/mL concentrations. For pre-treatment, cell pellets were first stimulated with IL-1beta, for 24 hours, then BMP-3. The pellets were harvested at day 7, 14, and 28. Results demonstrated that BMP-3 stimulation at 10ng/mL promoted cell viability, proteoglycan accumulation as well as chondrogenesis in all pellet groups compared to 1ng/mL. Cellular proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs was best promoted by PRE-T at 10ng/mL whereas BMP-3 best enhanced chondrogenesis in DCs and co-culture pellets at the same concentration.