Can I order cells from donors with specific characteristics (e.g., age, Pfirrmann grade)?

Yes, we often have inventory from a diverse range of donors. Please contact our sales team with your specific requirements, and we will do our best to match them from our available lots.

What should I do upon receiving my shipment?

Upon receipt, you should immediately transfer the cryovial from the dry ice shipping container to a liquid nitrogen vapor phase dewar for long-term storage. Alternatively, you can thaw and plate the cells immediately according to our detailed protocol. Do not store the vial at -80°C.

Do you offer cells from animal models (e.g., bovine, porcine)?

Currently, our primary focus is on high-relevance human cells. However, please contact us with your specific needs, as we may be able to facilitate custom isolation projects.

Can I test my specific compound using your models?

Absolutely. We specialize in custom screening projects. You can provide your test articles, and our team will execute the experiment according to a collaboratively designed protocol. We handle everything from model setup to final data analysis. Let's discuss your compound and objectives.

How are these models better than using a standard chondrocyte cell line?

While chondrocytes share some characteristics, cells of the intervertebral disc possess a unique phenotype and developmental origin. Our models use primary cells isolated directly from the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus, ensuring they express the correct biomarkers and respond to stimuli in a manner that is far more relevant to the specific biology of the disc.

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Lumbar Disk Disease Cell Model Products

Introduction Types Advantages Applications FAQs Related Product Sections Product List

Introduction

As a principal etiological factor for chronic lower back pain, Lumbar Disc Disease (LDD) contributes substantially to global morbidity. Its complex pathophysiology—a cascade of degenerative changes within the intervertebral disc (IVD)—presents formidable challenges to scientific investigation. The disc's inherent avascularity, coupled with the specialized biology of its nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) cell populations, creates a system that is profoundly difficult to model. Meaningful progress is therefore constrained. Advancing therapeutic strategies, from regenerative medicine to targeted pharmacology, hinges upon one critical prerequisite: a cellular model that faithfully recapitulates human pathology.

To address this need, rigorously characterized primary human cell systems are essential. Such tools must circumvent the translational limitations of animal models and the phenotypic drift of immortalized lines. Creative Biolabs provides access to meticulously isolated and cryopreserved primary human NP and AF cells, each lot extensively validated for identity, purity, and functional viability. These reagents empower high-fidelity inquiries into the molecular mechanisms of human IVD degeneration. Contact our scientific team to discuss your specific project needs and learn how cells that mirror in vivo physiology can propel your research forward.

For a comprehensive overview of our products, please refer to the complete Product List.

Main Types

Types	Description
Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells (HNPCs)	Isolated from the disc's central gelatinous core, these chondrocyte-like cells synthesize the proteoglycan-rich matrix (e.g., aggrecan, collagen II) that gives the IVD its critical hydration and compressive strength. They are essential for studying the core pathology of disc degeneration.
Human Annulus Fibrosus Cells (HAFCs)	These fibroblast-like cells form the disc's lamellar outer ring, producing a dense network of Type I collagen. This structure provides the crucial tensile strength required to contain the nucleus pulposus and withstand spinal torsion and flexion, making the cells ideal for studies on annular tears and repair.
Human Cartilage Endplate Cells (HCEPCs)	Sourced from the vital interface between the disc and the vertebral body, these specialized cells are the gatekeepers of IVD nutrition and waste transport. Their dysfunction is a critical initiating factor in disc degeneration, making them indispensable for any complete disease model.
Matched Tri-Component IVD Cell Systems	For the ultimate in physiological relevance, we provide HNPCs, HAFCs, and HCEPCs isolated from a single donor. This unique system allows you to accurately model the complex intercellular communication and integrated function of the entire disc unit, providing unparalleled insights into system-level pathology.

Advantages: Your Competitive Edge in LDD Research

Partnering with Creative Biolabs provides a distinct advantage for your research programs.

Physiological Relevance

Unlike immortalized cell lines, our primary cells retain the complex genetic and biochemical properties of their tissue of origin. This allows for studying cellular responses to inflammatory, mechanical, and nutritional stress in a model that faithfully mimics human LDD.

Accelerated Timelines

Accelerate your research by using our experiment-ready cells. You can bypass the time-consuming steps of tissue sourcing and primary cell isolation, saving valuable project time.

Reproducible Results

By minimizing lot-to-lot variability through stringent QC and comprehensive characterization, our cells provide a consistent and reliable foundation for reproducible data generation across longitudinal studies.

Access to a Complete System

Model the entire IVD microenvironment. By using our matched sets of Nucleus Pulposus, Annulus Fibrosus, and Cartilage Endplate cells from the same donor, you can build sophisticated co-culture and 3D models that more accurately recapitulate native tissue crosstalk.

Expert Technical Support

Your success is our mission. Our team of Ph.D.-level cell biologists is available to provide in-depth technical support for your experiments, from initial culture setup to advanced application troubleshooting.

Applications

Creative Biolabs' LDD cell models are the ideal platform for a wide range of research applications:

Applications	Description
Pathophysiology Studies	Investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving IVD degeneration, including senescence, apoptosis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation.
Drug Discovery & Compound Screening	Screen small molecules, biologics, and gene therapies for their potential to mitigate inflammation, inhibit catabolic enzymes (e.g., MMPs, ADAMTSs), or promote anabolic activity.
Regenerative Medicine & Tissue Engineering	Evaluate the biocompatibility and efficacy of novel biomaterials, hydrogels, and scaffolds designed for disc repair and regeneration. Assess the differentiation potential of stem cells into IVD-like phenotypes.
Biomechanical Studies	Utilize our cells in custom bioreactors to study the effects of mechanical loading, compression, and shear stress on cell signaling and ECM homeostasis.
Biomarker Discovery	Identify novel diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for LDD by analyzing cellular secretions and gene expression profiles under various stimuli.

A picture that presents an illustration of a healthy and degenerative IVD. (Mohd Isa, et al., 2022) (OA Literature)

Fig.1 An illustration of a healthy and degenerative IVD.¹

FAQs

Can I order cells from donors with specific characteristics (e.g., age, Pfirrmann grade)?
Yes, we often have inventory from a diverse range of donors. Please contact our sales team with your specific requirements, and we will do our best to match them from our available lots.
What should I do upon receiving my shipment?
Upon receipt, you should immediately transfer the cryovial from the dry ice shipping container to a liquid nitrogen vapor phase dewar for long-term storage. Alternatively, you can thaw and plate the cells immediately according to our detailed protocol. Do not store the vial at -80°C.
Do you offer cells from animal models (e.g., bovine, porcine)?
Currently, our primary focus is on high-relevance human cells. However, please contact us with your specific needs, as we may be able to facilitate custom isolation projects.
Can I test my specific compound using your models?
Absolutely. We specialize in custom screening projects. You can provide your test articles, and our team will execute the experiment according to a collaboratively designed protocol. We handle everything from model setup to final data analysis. Let's discuss your compound and objectives.
How are these models better than using a standard chondrocyte cell line?
While chondrocytes share some characteristics, cells of the intervertebral disc possess a unique phenotype and developmental origin. Our models use primary cells isolated directly from the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus, ensuring they express the correct biomarkers and respond to stimuli in a manner that is far more relevant to the specific biology of the disc.

To facilitate the elucidation of the complex molecular etiologies underlying intervertebral disc degeneration, Creative Biolabs provides the scientific community with cellular models engineered for high physiological fidelity. These advanced platforms serve to accelerate the mechanistic investigation of disc pathology and expedite the preclinical development pipeline for novel therapeutic interventions. Contact us today to discuss your project with our scientific team and discover how Creative Biolabs' Lumbar Disc Disease cell products can accelerate your path to discovery.