title: Adipose-derived stem cells for nerve repair: hype or reality?
abstract: Peripheral nerve injury is a relatively commonly occurring trauma which seriously compromises the quality of life for many individuals. There is a major need to devise new treatment strategies, and one possible approach is to develop cellular therapies to bioengineer new nerve tissue and/or modulate the endogenous regenerative mechanisms within the peripheral nervous system. In this short review we describe how stem cells isolated from adipose tissue could be a suitable element of this approach. We describe the possible mechanisms through which the stem cells might exert a positive influence on peripheral nerve regeneration. These include their ability to differentiate into cells resembling Schwann cells and their secretion of a plethora of neurotrophic growth factors. We also review the literature describing the effects of these cells when tested using in vivo peripheral nerve injury models.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kingham
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiberg
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins