title: Pre-differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells in combination with a microstructured nerve guide supports peripheral nerve regeneration in the rat sciatic nerve model.
abstract: Many bioartificial nerve guides have been investigated pre-clinically for their nerve regeneration-supporting function, often in comparison to autologous nerve transplantation, which is still regarded as the current clinical gold standard. Enrichment of these scaffolds with cells intended to support axonal regeneration has been explored as a strategy to boost axonal regeneration across these nerve guides Ansselin et al. (1998). In the present study, 20 mm rat sciatic nerve defects were implanted with a cell-seeded microstructured collagen nerve guide (Perimaix) or an autologous nerve graft. Under the influence of seeded, pre-differentiated mesenchymal stromal cells, axons regenerated well into the Perimaix nerve guide. Myelination-related parameters, like myelin sheath thickness, benefitted from an additional seeding with pre-differentiated mesenchymal stromal cells. Furthermore, both the number of retrogradely labelled sensory neurons and the axon density within the implant were elevated in the cell-seeded scaffold group with pre-differentiated mesenchymal stromal cells. However, a pre-differentiation had no influence on functional recovery. An additional cell seeding of the Perimaix nerve guide with mesenchymal stromal cells led to an extent of functional recovery, independent of the differentiation status, similar to autologous nerve transplantation. These findings encourage further investigations on pre-differentiated mesenchymal stromal cells as a cellular support for peripheral nerve regeneration.
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Arne Hendrik
authors: AH
authors: Boecker
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Sabien Geraldine Antonia
authors: SG
authors: van Neerven
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Juliane
authors: J
authors: Scheffel
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Tank
authors: Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.|Department of Neurosurgery, Evangelic Hospital Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors: Haktan
authors: H
authors: Altinova
authors: M.A.R.C.O. GmbH & Co. KG, Institute for Clinical Research and Statistics, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Seidensticker
authors: Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.|Neuropharmacology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Deumens
authors: Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Rene
authors: R
authors: Tolba
authors: Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.|Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance - Translational Brain Medicine (JARA Brain), Aachen, Germany.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Weis
authors: Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.|Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance - Translational Brain Medicine (JARA Brain), Aachen, Germany.
authors: Gary Anthony
authors: GA
authors: Brook
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Pallua
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.|Department of Plastic & Aesthetic, Reconstructive & Hand Surgery, Center for Reconstructive Microsurgery and Peripheral Nerve Surgery (ZEMPEN) Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Bozkurt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen
keywords: mesenchymal stromal cells; nerve guide; nerve reconstruction; peripheral nerve injury