Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) causes a variety of signs and symptoms, such as low
back pain (LBP), intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal stenosis, which contribute to high
social and economic costs. IDD results from many factors, including genetic factors, aging,
mechanical injury, malnutrition, and so on. The pathological changes of IDD are mainly
composed of the senescence and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), the
progressive degeneration of extracellular matrix (ECM), the fibrosis of annulus fibrosus (AF) …

… The present application also relates to treating degenerating disc by preventing or
retarding intervertebral disc degeneration. The present invention also relates to methods of
using chondrocytes for introduction into injured intervertebral disc region and preventing or
retarding degeneration of the intervertebral disc. The present invention also relates to a
method of introducing at least one gene encoding a member of the transforming growth
factor β superfamily into at least one mammalian connective tissue cell for use in preventing …