Nerve repair with adipose-derived stem cells protects dorsal root ganglia neurons from apoptosis

Adam Reid, A. J. Reid, M. Sun, M. Wiberg, S. Downes, G. Terenghi, P. J. Kingham

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Novel approaches are required in the clinical management of peripheral nerve injuries because current surgical techniques result in deficient sensory recovery. Microsurgery alone fails to address extensive cell death in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), in addition to poor axonal regeneration. Incorporation of cultured cells into nerve conduits may offer a novel approach in which to combine nerve repair and enhance axonal regeneration with neuroprotective therapies. We examined apoptotic mediator expression in rat DRG neurons following repair of a 10-mm sciatic nerve gap using a novel synthetic conduit made of poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) and primed with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) differentiated towards a Schwann cell phenotype or with primary adult Schwann cells. Differentiated ADSC expressed a range of neurotrophic factors including nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and neurotrophin-4 (NT4). Incorporation of either differentiated ADSC or Schwann cells significantly increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 mRNA expression (P
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)515-522
    Number of pages7
    JournalNeuroscience
    Volume199
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 29 Dec 2011

    Keywords

    • Conduit
    • Dorsal root ganglion
    • Neuronal apoptosis
    • Neuroprotection
    • Peripheral nerve injury
    • Rat

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