Effect of an Analgesic Drug on Necelus Pulposus Cells from Human Intervertebral Disc (IVD) Tissues

Neurotropin (NTP), a non-protein extract from inflamed rabbit skin inoculated with vaccinia virus. It has been widely used in Japan to treat low back pain. The current sutudy evaluated its stimulative effect on the disc cells to enhance glycosaminoglycan synthesis, which is one of the most important functions of the cells. Gene expression profile was exzamined in the cells treated with or without NTP in vitro. Cultured human nucleus pulposus cells were treated with NTP every second day for a week. Total RNA was prepared from the harvested cells, and analyzed gene expression. RNA from the cells cultured in the basal medium for the same time period was used as control.