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 inhibiting degeneration of an intact organ having laminated walls in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering into a first laminated wall an effective amount of a formulation comprising viable, concentrated, cultured, allogenic, mesenchymal progenitor cells. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells were obtained from bone marrow aspirate by immunoabsorption with antibodies selected to recognize alkaline phosphatase cell surface antigen. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the antibodies are selected to further recognize STRO-1 cell surface antigen. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells co-express STRO-1 cell surface antigen and alkaline phosphatase cell surface antigen. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the formulation further comprises hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the formulation consists essentially of the mesenchymal progenitor cells and hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells are concentrated using centrifugation. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells are concentrated using filtration. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells are administered to the disc using a carrier. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells are derived from bone marrow aspirate. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the administering of the mesenchymal progenitor cells is accomplished through a needle. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the needle has a maximum gauge of 24 gauge. 
     
     
         33 . A method of inhibiting degeneration of an intact organ having laminated walls in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering into a first laminated wall an effective amount of a formulation comprising viable mesenchymal progenitor cells that are concentrated, allogenic, and co-express STRO-1 cell surface antigen and alkaline phosphatase cell surface antigen, wherein the mesenchymal progenitor cells were obtained from bone marrow aspirate by immunoabsorption with antibodies selected to recognize STRO-1 cell surface antigen and alkaline phosphatase cell surface antigen.