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 extracellular matrix of a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc having a degenerating nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosus in a patient in need thereof, comprising transdiscally administering into the degenerating nucleus pulposus an effective amount of a formulation comprising: viable allogenic mesenchymal stem cells in a concentrated form, wherein the cells were obtained from bone marrow and concentrated by centrifugation, filtration or immunoabsorption. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cells administered into the degenerating nucleus pulposus are cultured cells. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cells were obtained from bone marrow and concentrated by centrifugation. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cells were obtained from bone marrow and concentrated by filtration. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cells were obtained from bone marrow and concentrated by immunoabsorption. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the formulation is injected into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the formulation is also administered into the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the formulation is delivered in a sustained release device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sustained release device comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the polymer is a bioresorbable polymer. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and polycaprolactone (PCL), or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sustained release device comprises a biosensor. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising transdiscally administering a growth factor into the degenerating nucleus pulposus. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the growth factor is transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) or a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP).