INTERVERTEBRAL DISC REPAIR COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS

摘要

The present invention provides compositions, methods and devices for treatment of degenerative disc disease or the repair of a disc in need of repair. The composition or the formulation includes freshly isolated or culture expanded ELA cells, which can be cyropreserved. The composition or a formulation also includes in various embodiments an ELA cell population that has been differentiated into cell types having at least one characteristic of human intervertebral disc cells, such as fibroblast cells, chondrocyte cells or notochordal cells. The composition or the formulation includes in certain embodiments either a population of ELA cells provided in conjunction with one or more biocompatible molecules, therapeutic agents, or agents that induce ELA stem cell differentiation. The ELA cells are obtained from fluid or tissue from live or cadaveric (cadaverous) donors. Treatment of a degenerative disc or a disc in need of repair includes in various embodiments one or more injections or implantations of the composition comprising the ELA cells within or in association with the disc in need of repair.