Transdiscal Administration Of Specific Inhibitors Of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract

The present invention relates to injecting a high specificity cytokine antagonist into a diseased intervertebral disc.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising, administering autologous, uncultured stem cells into a degenerated intervertebral disc. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are concentrated prior to being administered into the intervertebral disc. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the stem cells are concentrated using centrifugation. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the stem cells are concentrated using filtration. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are administered to the disc using a carrier. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are derived from bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein there is an additional step of administering a therapeutic agent into the intervertebral disc. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of growth factors, differentiation factors, and nutritional supplements. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a growth factor. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the therapeutic agent and the stem cells are administered into the intervertebral disc with saline. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are derived from adipose tissue. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of administering the therapeutic agent occurs simultaneously with the step of administering the stem cells to the disc. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of administering the therapeutic agent occurs prior to the step of administering the stem cells to the disc. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of administering the therapeutic agent occurs after the step of administering the stem cells to the disc. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are administered into the disc with an anticoagulant. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are administered into the disc with a nutritional supplement. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are administered into the disc with autologous platelet concentrate. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are administered into the nucleus pulposus. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stem cells are administered into the annulus fibrosus. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the nucleus pulposus is removed prior to administering the stem cells into the intervertebral disc. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administering of the stem cells is accomplished through a needle. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the needle has a maximum gauge of 24 gauge. 
     
     
         43 . A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising, administering into the nucleus pulposus of the degenerated intervertebral disc a composition comprising:
 i) mesenchymal progenitor cells from autologous bone marrow;   ii) demineralized bone matrix; and   iii) hyaluronic acid.   
     
     
         44 . A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, comprising:
 a) contacting a substrate comprising demineralized bone matrix and hyaluronic acid with autologous bone marrow to produce a composition; and   b) administering the composition into the nucleus pulposus of the degenerated intervertebral disc.