Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering: Autologous Schwann Cells vs. Transdifferent

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Tissue Eng. 2006 Jun;12(6):1451-65.

Peripheral Nerve Tissue Engineering: Autologous Schwann Cells vs.

Transdifferentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Keilhoff G, Goihl A, Stang F, Wolf G, Fansa H.

Institute of Medical Neurobiology, Otto-von-Guericke-University,

Magdeburg, Germany.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were evaluated as an alternative source

for tissue engineering of peripheral nerves. MSCs,

transdifferentiated MSCs, or Schwann cells cultured from male rats

were grafted into devitalized autologous muscle conduits bridging a 2-

cm sciatic nerve gap in female rats. The differentiation potential of

MSCs and transformed cultivated MSCs into Schwann cell-like cells was

exploited using a cocktail of cytokines. Polymerase chain reaction of

the SRY gene confirmed the presence of the implanted cells in the

grafts.

After 6 weeks, regeneration was monitored clinically, histologically,

and morphometrically. Autologous nerves and cell-free muscle grafts

were used as control. Revascularization studies suggested that

transdifferentiated MSCs, in contrast to undifferentiated MSCs,

facilitated neo-angiogenesis and did not influence macrophage

recruitment.

Autologous nerve grafts demonstrated the best results in all

regenerative parameters. An appropriate regeneration was noted in the

Schwann cell-groups and, albeit with restrictions, in the

transdifferentiated MSC groups, whereas regeneration in the MSC group

and in the cell-free group was impaired. The results indicate that

transdifferentiated MSCs implanted into devitalized muscle grafts are

able to support peripheral nerve regeneration to some extent, and

offer a potential for new therapeutic strategies.