Disc degeneration: The new treatment that stems from a cell

Eight out of ten people experience some sort of back pain and it appears that our four-legged canine companions are no exception. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and associated back pain is a common and debilitating condition in dogs, especially in chondrodystrophoid breeds such as Daschunds and Basset hounds. Recent research has shown that stem cell treatment may be the most effective way to treat IVD degeneration in canine models. Intervertebral discs are essentially avascular and have extremely poor recovery outcomes. Currently, treatment techniques include conservative methods as well as surgical fusion, however, success rates are low and subsequent complications often arise.

A recent study investigating the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in canine disc degeneration has shown to effectively lead to IVD regeneration. MSCs have similar cell characteristics to chondrocytes with the added benefit of being immune tolerant, an essential feature for preventing elimination by the host. IVDs are one of the few tissues in the body that contain Fas-ligand (FasL) and are therefore described as having immune privilege. FasL is a transmembrane protein of the tumor necrosis family and maintaining immune privilege is integral for sustained IVD function. The FasL system was initially thought to attack MSCs after transplantation however, recent research suggests that transplanted mesenchymal stem cells may actually differentiate into cells expressing FasL. It appears that with this breakthrough in veterinary medicine we may see a few more tails wagging.

Primary Source:
Hiyama, A., Mochida, J., Iwashina, T., Omi, H., Watanabe, T., Serigano, K., Tamura, F., Sakai, D. (2008) Transplantaion of mesenchymal stem cells in a canine disc degeneration model. J Orthop Res, 26(5); 589-600. Available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117889422/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Secondary Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fas_ligand

Bray, J., Burbidge, H. (1998) The canine Intervertebral disk. Part one: structure and function. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc, 34: 55-63.

Bray, J., Burbidge, H. (1998) The canine Intervertebral disk. Part Two: Degenerative changes – Nonchondrodystrophoid versus chondrodystrophoid disks. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc, 34; 135-44.

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