Ad/CMV- hTGF-beta1 treats rabbit intervertebral discs degeneration in vivo.

To investigate therapeutic efficiency of Ad/CMV- hTGF-beta1 gene for rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration model. 60 Japanese white rabbits were selected to form the 1.5-L6 Anterior-Lateral-Anulus-Fibrosus-Incision-Induced model in order to simulate human intervertebral disc degeneration. 36 rabbits, whose corresponding intervertebral discs were injected with 20 microl (10 x 10(6) pfu) of Ad/CMV- hTGF-beta1 gene, constituted the therapy group, 12 were injected with 20 microl (10 x 10(6) pfu)of Ad/CMV-LacZ gene as comparison group, while 12 were only injected with equivalent capacity of saline for empty comparison group, 3 weeks after injection, examples were taken for investigation of HE staining, MRI, Western Blotting and immunohistochemical research TGF-beta1. Wide distribution of TGF-beta1 was detected by immunohistochemical research in the degenerated annulus fibrosus after injection. Western Blotting research showed significant increase of TGF-beta1 content in intervertebral discs treated with TGF-beta1 gene than comparison groups. MRI signal transformed from low to comparatively high and that intervertebral disc pathological degree improved. Ad/CMV- hTGF-beta1 gene transfection is a potential method to increase TGF-beta1 content and reverse intervertebral disc degeneration.