THERAPEUTIC AGENT FOR INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DEGENERATION AND MATERIAL FOR CULTURING INTERVERTEBRAL DISC CELLS

摘要

Methods for nucleus pulposus regeneration have been proposed for the therapy of intervertebral disc degeneration. However, collagen and atelocollagen are merely efficacious for maintaining an intervertebral distance at a certain level but cannot contribute to the regeneration of nucleus pulposus cells. Meanwhile, transplantation of vital cells or nucleus pulposus cells from a donor is not sufficiently safe.When administered to a nucleus pulposus region losing nucleus pulposus, the therapeutic agent for intervertebral disc degeneration according to the present invention, said therapeutic agent containing LASCo1 obtained by enzymatically cutting a terminus of collagen, can promote the maintenance of intervertebral distance and the regeneration of nucleus pulposus cells and/or annulus fibrosus cells.