OBJECTIVE: To review research progress of the relation between growth factor and repair of intervertebral disc. METHODS: The recent articles on growth factor and repair of intervertebral disc were extensively reviewed. The expression of growth factor in intervertebral disc and the effect of growth factor on disc cells were investigated. RESULTS: Some growth factors play roles in the development and degeneration of intervertebral disc. Exogenous growth factor can increase proliferation of disc cells and production of proteoglycans and collagens. Gene of growth factor can be transferred to intervertebral disc cell by adenovirus. CONCLUSION: Growth factor plays an important role in the regulation of development and degeneration of interertebral disc. The above results show that the feasibility of usage of growth factor in the treatment of disc degeneration and in repair and reconstruction of disc.
