ALP	alkaline phosphatase
ASAP	ascorbic acid-2-phosphate
bFGF	human basic fibroblast growth factor
BMP	bone morphogenetic protein
BSA	bovine serum albumin
α-MEM	Eagle’s minimum essential medium – alpha modification
DMEM	Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium
DMMB	1,9-dimethylmethylene blue
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
FBS	fetal bovine serum
GAG	glycosaminoglycan
H	heterodimers
IBMX	3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine
ITS	insulin-transferrin-selenium
IVD	intervertebral disc
METC	medical ethics committee
MMP	matrix metalloprotease
MSC	mesenchymal stromal cell
NCT	national clinical trial
NP	nucleus pulposus
OD	optical density
pen/strep	penicillin + streptomycin
PIICP	carboxy-terminal propeptide of type II collagen or procollagen II
TGF-β	transforming growth factor-β
TMB	3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine
SD	standard deviation