Exogenous thymosin beta4 prevents apoptosis in human intervertebral annulus cells in vitro

Tapp H, Deepe R, Ingram JA, Yarmola EG, Bubb MR, Hanley EN Jr, Gruber HE · Biotechnic & Histochemistry

Tβ4 significantly reduced the proportion of apoptotic annulus cells under both stresses, while proteoglycan production was unchanged on both assay and histology — cell survival improved without any matrix response.

Population

Human intervertebral disc annulus cells in monolayer and three-dimensional culture

Intervention

Exogenous thymosin β4, with apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide or serum starvation

Comparator

Untreated cultures

Limitations

Culture study in disc fibrocartilage, not articular cartilage; the unchanged proteoglycan output is the relevant limit for anyone hoping for matrix synthesis.