METHODS OF INDUCING OR INCREASING THE EXPRESSION OF PROTEOGLYCANS SUCH AS AGGRECAN IN CELLS

摘要

Methods of inducing the expression of a proteoglycan such as aggrecan in a cell are described. A method is described which includes transfecting a cell with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter. The LIM mineralization protein can be rLMP, hLMP-1, hLMP-1s, or hLMP-3. Transfection maybe accomplishedex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. The method can be used to induce proteoglycan synthesis in osseous cells or to stimulate proteoglycan and/or collagen production in cells capable of producing proteoglycan and/or collagen (e.g., intervertebral disc cells including cells of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus).