title: Collagen (NeuraGen®) nerve conduits and stem cells for peripheral nerve gap repair.
abstract: Collagen nerve guides are used clinically for peripheral nerve defects, but their use is generally limited to lesions up to 3 cm. In this study we combined collagen conduits with cells as an alternative strategy to support nerve regeneration over longer gaps. In vitro cell adherence to collagen conduits (NeuraGen(®) nerve guides) was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. For in vivo experiments, conduits were seeded with either Schwann cells (SC), SC-like differentiated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (dMSC), SC-like differentiated adipose-derived stem cells (dASC) or left empty (control group), conduits were used to bridge a 1cm gap in the rat sciatic nerve and after 2-weeks immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess axonal regeneration and SC infiltration. The regenerative cells showed good adherence to the collagen walls. Primary SC showed significant improvement in distal stump sprouting. No significant differences in proximal regeneration distances were noticed among experimental groups. dMSC and dASC-loaded conduits showed a diffuse sprouting pattern, while SC-loaded showed an enhanced cone pattern and a typical sprouting along the conduits walls, suggesting an increased affinity for the collagen type I fibrillar structure. NeuraGen(®) guides showed high affinity of regenerative cells and could be used as efficient vehicle for cell delivery. However, surface modifications (e.g. with extracellular matrix molecule peptides) of NeuraGen(®) guides could be used in future tissue-engineering applications to better exploit the cell potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: Pietro.Di-Summa@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: Pietro G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: di Summa
authors.affiliation: Section for Anatomy, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå universitet, hus H, Biologihuset, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: paul.kingham@anatomy.umu.se.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kingham
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Genova, Ospedale S. Martino, Largo Rossana Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: campisi_corrado@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Corrado C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: Wassim.Raffoul@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: Wassim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Raffoul
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital of Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: daniel.kalbermatten@bluewin.ch.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kalbermatten
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
keywords: Adipose-derived stem cells; FDA-approved collagen conduits; Peripheral nerve regeneration; Schwann cell-like differentiation