title: Co-treatment effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) with human dental pulp stromal cells and FK506 on the regeneration of crush injured rat sciatic nerve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether crush injured rat sciatic nerve could be benefit from pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) combined with human dental pulp stromal cells (hDPSCs), with FK506 (Tacrolimus) for immune suppression and neuropromotion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g, 6 week old) were distributed into 6 groups (n = 18 each): control, PEMF, FK506, PEMF + hDPSCs, PEMF + FK506, and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups. hDPSCs (cell = 1 × 106/10 μl/rat) were injected at the crush site immediate after injury. FK506 was administered 3 weeks in FK506 group (0.5 mg/kg/d) while pre-op 1 d and post-op 7 d in PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 group; cell tracking was done with PKH26-labeled hDPSCs (cell = 1 × 106/10 μl/rat). The rats were follow-up for 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 group showed a sharp increase in sciatic function index (SFI), axon counts, densities, and labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) than control at 3 weeks. Other three treatment groups also showed higher axon counts, densities, and labeled neurons than control. Higher axon counts and densities were found in PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups comparing with PEMF group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression pattern in nerve segment and DRG was almost same. Higher expression level in all the treatment groups was discovered in the follow-up period, but there was no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All treatment groups can improve regeneration of neurons following crushed injury, PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups showed higher regeneration ability than other three groups. FK506 plays an important role during hDPSCs transplantation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry , Seoul National University , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wei-Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hei
authors.forename: Soochan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Kwon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Soung-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jahng
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy; D008297:Male; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: FK506; Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF); crush nerve injury; human dental pulp stromal cells (hDPSCs); peripheral nerve regeneration