Bioengineering neural stem/progenitor cell-coated tubes for spinal cord injury repair.
The aim of this study was to understand the survival and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) cultured on chitosan matrices in vivo in a complete transection model of spinal cord injury. NSPCs were isolated from the subependyma of lateral ventricles of adult GFP transgenic rat forebrains. The GFP-positive neurospheres were seeded onto the inner lumen of chitosan tubes to generate multicellular sheets ex vivo. These bioengineered neurosphere tubes were implanted into a completely transected spinal cord and assessed after 5 weeks for survival and differentiation. The in vivo study showed excellent survival of NSPCs, as well as differentiation into astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Importantly, host neurons were identified in the tissue bridge that formed within the chitosan tubes and bridged the transected cord stumps. The excellent in vivo survival of the NSPCs coupled with their differentiation and maintenance of host neurons in the regenerated tissue bridge demonstrates the promise of the chitosan tubes for stem cell delivery and tissue regeneration.
Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Tasneem
T
Zahir
Hiroshi
H
Nomura
Xiao Dong
XD
Guo
Howard
H
Kim
Charles
C
Tator
Cindi
C
Morshead
Molly
M
Shoichet
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D048271:Chitosan