Fig. 4

T2-weighted MRI to assess restoration of the disc water content in a rabbit model following transplantation. a Representative T2-weighed MRI of the sham, XHA only, and MSC-highTR/XHA groups 12 weeks after transplantation. b The Pfirrmann grade is lowest in the MSC-highTR/XHA group, suggesting that combined use of MSC-highTR and a XHA scaffold is most effective for IVD regeneration (n = 3). **p <0.01, *p <0.05. ALK5 activin-like kinase receptor 5, MSC-highTR Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells highly expressing TβRI/ALK5 and TβRII, TβR transforming growth factor-beta receptor, XHA cross-linked hyaluronic acid