title: Generation of magnetized olfactory ensheathing cells for regenerative studies in the central and peripheral nervous tissue.
abstract: As olfactory receptor axons grow from the peripheral to the central nervous system (CNS) aided by olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), the transplantation of OECs has been suggested as a plausible therapy for spinal cord lesions. The problem with this hypothesis is that OECs do not represent a single homogeneous entity, but, instead, a functionally heterogeneous population that exhibits a variety of responses, including adhesion and repulsion during cell-matrix interactions. Some studies report that the migratory properties of OECs are compromised by inhibitory molecules and potentiated by chemical gradients. In this paper, we report a system based on modified OECs carrying magnetic nanoparticles as a proof of concept experiment enabling specific studies aimed at exploring the potential of OECs in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. Our studies have confirmed that magnetized OECs (i) survive well without exhibiting stress-associated cellular responses; (ii) in vitro, their migration can be modulated by magnetic fields; and (iii) their transplantation in organotypic slices of spinal cord and peripheral nerve showed positive integration in the model. Altogether, these findings indicate the therapeutic potential of magnetized OECs for CNS injuries.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, Pisa 56127, Italy. c.riggio@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nocentini
authors.forename: Maria Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Catalayud
authors.forename: Gerardo Fabian
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Goya
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuschieri
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: del Río
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles