Nucleus Pulposus Cells (NPC)

An intervertebral discs consist of an outer fibrous ring, the anulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis, which surrounds an inner gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus.The nucleus pulposus of the disc functions to distribute hydraulic pressure in all directions within each intervertebral disc under compressive loads.

Nucleus pulposus cells (NPC) reside in an environment that has a limited vascular supply and generate energy through anaerobic glycolysis.Results indicate that normoxic stabilization of HIF-1alpha is a metabolic adaptation of nucleus pulposus cells to a unique oxygen-limited microenvironment. The study confirmed that HIF-1alpha can be used as a phenotypic marker of nucleus pulposus cells.Nucleus pulposus cells provide an in vitro model for the study of cellular and molecular events involved in disc degeneration, tissue engineering and cell therapy for spine disc disorders.