title: A 3D in vitro model reveals differences in the astrocyte response elicited by potential stem cell therapies for CNS injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to develop a 3D culture model to test the extent to which transplanted stem cells modulate astrocyte reactivity, where exacerbated glial cell activation could be detrimental to CNS repair success.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reactivity of rat astrocytes to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and differentiated adipose-derived stem cells was assessed after 5 days. Schwann cells were used as a positive control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose-derived stem cells did not increase astrocyte reactivity. Highly reactive responses to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells were equivalent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This approach can screen therapeutic cells prior to in vivo testing, allowing cells likely to trigger a substantial astrocyte response to be identified at an early stage. NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose-derived stem cells may be useful in treating CNS damage without increasing astrogliosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Health & Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: East
authors.forename: Noémie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Jon P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.forename: A Jane
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Loughlin
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kingham
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein