Long-term in vivo regeneration of peripheral nerves through bioengineered nerve grafts

P. G. di Summa, D. F. Kalbermatten, E. Pralong, W. Raffoul, P. J. Kingham, G. Terenghi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Although autologous nerve graft is still the first choice strategy in nerve reconstruction, it has the severe disadvantage of the sacrifice of a functional nerve. Cell transplantation in a bioartificial conduit is an alternative strategy to improve nerve regeneration. Nerve fibrin conduits were seeded with various cell types: primary Schwann cells (SC), SC-like differentiated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (dMSC), SC-like differentiated adipose-derived stem cells (dASC). Two further control groups were fibrin conduits without cells and autografts. Conduits were used to bridge a 1 cm rat sciatic nerve gap in a long term experiment (16 weeks). Functional and morphological properties of regenerated nerves were investigated. A reduction in muscle atrophy was observed in the autograft and in all cell-seeded groups, when compared with the empty fibrin conduits. SC showed significant improvement in axon myelination and average fiber diameter of the regenerated nerves. dASC were the most effective cell population in terms of improvement of axonal and fiber diameter, evoked potentials at the level of the gastrocnemius muscle and regeneration of motoneurons, similar to the autografts. Given these results and other advantages of adipose derived stem cells such as ease of harvest and relative abundance, dASC could be a clinically translatable route towards new methods to enhance peripheral nerve repair. © 2011 IBRO.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)278-291
    Number of pages13
    JournalNeuroscience
    Volume181
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 5 May 2011

    Keywords

    • Adipose-derived stem cells
    • Fibrin conduit
    • Nerve repair
    • Schwann cell

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