title: Cell-cell interactions of human neural progenitor-derived astrocytes within a microstructured 3D-scaffold.
abstract: In the present in vitro study, the axon growth promoting effects of human neural progenitor-derived astrocytes (hNP-AC) were investigated in simple 2D- as well as in more complex 3D-culture systems. The interactions of the hNP-AC with migrating Schwann cells and fibroblasts were also studied. hNP-AC were found to promote extensive dorsal root ganglion axon regeneration in 2D cultures, being even greater than that observed on the positive control, laminin-coated substrate. Contact-mediated mechanisms and the release of substances into the medium both played a role in supporting axon regeneration. Following seeding onto 3D collagen scaffolds, hNP-AC also promoted significantly greater axon regeneration from DRG explants than was seen on non-seeded scaffolds. The highly orientated, porous microstructure of the scaffold also supported substantial intermixing of hNP-AC and migrating Schwann cells/fibroblasts from the DRG explant, cell populations that are normally mutually repulsive. This suggests that the topography of 3D scaffolds may not only influence cell-substrate interactions but also cell-cell interactions within the scaffold. This opens the possibility that the design of future scaffolds could be optimised to enhance cell integration as well as modulating complex cell-cell interactions.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. tobias.fuehrmann@rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Führmann
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hillen
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Montzka
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wöltje
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015415:Biomarkers