Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, sourced from herniation surgeries, may be used as a cell-based therapy for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. But, both the regenerative potential of these degenerative adult NP cells and how to stimulate optimum matrix synthesis is not yet clear. The purpose of the current study was to understand the different phenotypic behaviors between degenerative adult NP cells and normal adolescent NP cells Degenerative adult NP cells produced a significantly higher amount of proteoglycans and collagens than adolescent cells. Insulin- like growth factor-1 was the only anabolic cytokine with increased endogenous expression in degenerative adult NP cells TGF-beta 1 treatment of degenerative NP cells promoted matrix synthesis but stimulated too much type I collagen and suppressed type II collagen and aggrecan. Adult degenerative NP cells possess upregulated regenerative potential, but stimulation in addition to TGF-beta 1 needed to enhance matrix productivity and optimize the collagen expression profile. ; 附設醫院骨科部 ; 醫學院附設醫院 ; 期刊論文