Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells express glial markers and stimulate nerve regeneration

• Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can trans-differentiate into neuronal phenotypes. We examined the differentiation of marrow stromal cells (MSCs) in culture and during nerve regeneration. MSCs from adult rats were exposed to glial growth factor (GGF) to stimulate glial differentiation. Subsequently differentiated MSCs were retrovirally labelled with green fluorescent protein and transplanted into 1 cm nerve conduits in the rat sciatic nerve. Fifteen days post-operatively the conduits were examined for axonal and Schwann cell regeneration and MSC integration. In vitro, MSCs exposed to GGF expressed S100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Following transplantation, MSCs maintained S100 expression and enhanced nerve regeneration, with significant Schwann cell regeneration compared to control (2.7 +/- 0.21 vs. 2.05 +/- .21 mm; P < 0.05). MSCs not exposed to GGF prior to transplantation expressed S100 in vivo indicating glial differentiation in response to local cytokines and growth factors.

Nyckelord

Animals

Bone Marrow Cells/cytology/drug effects/metabolism/*physiology

Bone Marrow Transplantation/methods

Cell Count/methods

Cell Differentiation/drug effects/*physiology

Gene Expression Regulation

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/*metabolism

Green Fluorescent Proteins

Immunohistochemistry/methods

Luminescent Proteins/metabolism

Nerve Regeneration/*physiology

Neuregulin-1/metabolism

Rats

Rats; Sprague-Dawley

Retroviridae/metabolism

S100 Proteins/*metabolism

Sciatic Nerve/transplantation

Stromal Cells/drug effects/metabolism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)