Abstract: Methods of expressing LIM mineralization protein in non-osseous mammalian cells, such as stem cells or intervertebral disc cells (e.g., cells of the annulus fibrosus, or cells of the nucleus pulposus) are described. The methods involve transfecting the cells with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter. Transfection may be accomplished ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. Expression of the LIM mineralization protein can stimulate proteoglycan and/or collagen production in cells capable of producing proteoglycyan and/or collagen. Methods for treating disc disease associated with trauma or disc degeneration are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treatment joint and disk disease comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a novel composition comprising a substantially purified plurality of cells enhanced with at least one bioactive factor capable of causing at least a portion of the plurality of cells to express an increased amount of at least one chondrogenic marker.

Abstract: A method of inducing the expression of one or more bone morphogenetic proteins and/or transforming growth factor-&bgr; proteins in a cell is described. The method includes transfecting a cell with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter. The one or more bone morphogenetic proteins can be BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7 or combinations thereof. The transforming growth factor-&bgr; protein can be transforming growth factor-&bgr;1 protein (TGF-&bgr;1). Transfection may be accomplished ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. The method can be used to induce bone formation in osseous cells or to stimulate proteoglycan and/or collagen production in cells capable of producing proteoglycyan and/or collagen (e.g., intervertebral disc cells).

Abstract: Methods of expressing LIM mineralization protein in non-osseous mammalian cells, such as stem cells or intervertebral disc cells (e.g., cells of the annulus fibrosus, or cells of the nucleus pulposus) are described. The methods involve transfecting the cells with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter. Transfection may be accomplished ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. Expression of the LIM mineralization protein can stimulate proteoglycan and/or collagen production in cells capable of producing proteoglycyan and/or collagen. Methods for treating disc disease associated with trauma or disc degeneration are also described.