Back pain is one of the most common physical conditions in the United States, for which approximately 15% of the population will visit a doctor every year. The most common type of back pain is low back pain (LBP) and millions of dollars are spent every year healthcare are a due to LBP. Although poorly understood, low back pain has been associated to interveterbral disc (IVD) degeneration. The IVD is an important structure that helps maintaining normal skeletal support. It is composed of three different tissues called the annulus fibrosus (AF), and the nucleus pulposus (NP), attached to a cartilage endplate (CEP) at its top and bottom surfaces. The AF tissue is composed of chondrocyte-like cells, while the NP tissue is composed of notochordal cells at a young age, which are replaced by mature NP cells later in life. Common signs of degeneration are the inability to maintain extracellular matrix integrity and calcification of the cartilage endplate. Extracellular matrix synthesis and cartilage endplate calcification are closely related to production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or energy metabolism of the cells. AF and NP tissues are known to be structurally and compositionally different; therefore it is believed that their metabolic pathways are also distinct. The objective of this study was to determine the differences between AF and NP cells, specifically in their energy metabolism with and without dynamic loading.

Replacing a diseased disc with a tissue engineered disc has the potential to restore normal spinal biomechanics. However, recreating the interface between annulus fibrosus (AF) and vertebral bone (VB) will be necessary to facilitate proper function of the implant in vivo. This study characterizes the native bovine AF-VB interface and assesses adult human discs. The AF insertion site in humans and cows is uniquely differentiated from other soft tissue-bone interfaces, as AF collagen fibers anchor into the calcified region of vertebral endplate through a zone of hyaline cartilage and have a different organization in inner and outer AF. Mineralization-associated proteins are present in this region and the chondroid tissue undergoes calcification over time. Based on these observations an in vitro AF culture system was developed and demonstrated that AF cells can induce mineralization. Understanding mechanism(s) regulating AF mineralization will help develop conditions to ensure proper integration of bioengineered AF.

Replacing a diseased disc with a tissue engineered disc has the potential to restore normal spinal biomechanics. However, recreating the interface between annulus fibrosus (AF) and vertebral bone (VB) will be necessary to facilitate proper function of the implant in vivo. This study characterizes the native bovine AF-VB interface and assesses adult human discs. The AF insertion site in humans and cows is uniquely differentiated from other soft tissue-bone interfaces, as AF collagen fibers anchor into the calcified region of vertebral endplate through a zone of hyaline cartilage and have a different organization in inner and outer AF. Mineralization-associated proteins are present in this region and the chondroid tissue undergoes calcification over time. Based on these observations an in vitro AF culture system was developed and demonstrated that AF cells can induce mineralization. Understanding mechanism(s) regulating AF mineralization will help develop conditions to ensure proper integration of bioengineered AF.

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