{
  "abstract": "Intradiscal injection of mesenchymal stromal cells has gained widespread interest for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. Mesenchymal stromal cells have been shown to impart a therapeutic benefit on treated tissues through a variety of mechanisms including mitochondrial transfer. Mitochondrial transfer from mesenchymal stromal cells to diseased cells has been demonstrated, in numerous model systems, to increase the survival and function of recipient cells. To date there are few studies that have investigated mitochondrial transfer from mesenchymal stromal cells to intervertebral disc cells. The goal of this study is to characterize mitochondrial transfer from mesenchymal stromal cells to bovine and human intervertebral disc cells using confocal microscopy. Following a 24-hour coculture period, bovine mesenchymal stromal cells were shown to transfer mitochondria to bovine annulus fibrosus cells under both healthy and inflammatory conditions. In addition, human mesenchymal stromal cells were shown to transfer mitochondria to diseased, patient-derived intervertebral disc cells. Mitochondrial transfer quantity was found to increase under inflammatory stress conditions and with patient age, though functional consequences of this transfer remain to be determined. This study is the first to show mesenchymal stromal cells transfer mitochondria to bovine annulus fibrosus cells and patient derived intervertebral disc cells. We provide evidence that mitochondrial transfer is a relevant mechanism by which mesenchymal stromal cells communicate with intervertebral disc cells.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America",
    "Department of Neurological Surgery, Och Spine at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America",
    "Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ashley Cardenas"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Noah Willett"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Anthony Robayo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jessica Berger"
    },
    {
      "name": "Blake Boadi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chibuikem A. Ikwuegbuenyi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ibrahim Hussain"
    },
    {
      "name": "Roger Härtl"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lawrence J. Bonassar"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dv9cw7dc0dycw.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357296",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "dv9cw7dc0dycw",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357296",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2734|Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Biological tissue/Connective tissue/Connective tissue cells/Stromal cells"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Bioenergetics/Energy-producing organelles/Mitochondria"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cell physiology/Cell fusion"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular structures and organelles/Energy-producing organelles/Mitochondria"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular types/Animal cells/Connective tissue cells/Stromal cells"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Immunology/Immune response/Inflammation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Biological tissue/Connective tissue/Connective tissue cells/Stromal cells"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Signs and symptoms/Inflammation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Signs and symptoms/Pain"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Immunology/Immune response/Inflammation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Microscopy/Light microscopy/Confocal microscopy"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Specimen preparation and treatment/Staining"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Specimen preparation and treatment/Staining/Cell staining"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213293774",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0357296&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-15",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dv9cw7dc0dycw.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357296",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357296"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:cell biology",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:anatomy",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Characterization of mesenchymal stromal cell-mediated mitochondrial transfer to healthy and diseased intervertebral disc cells",
  "title_text": "Characterization of mesenchymal stromal cell-mediated mitochondrial transfer to healthy and diseased intervertebral disc cells",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:49Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dv9cw7dc0dycw",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}