Reproductive and Genetic Center of National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.
Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018 May;12(5):1285-1296. doi: 10.1002/term.2660. Epub 2018 Mar 25.
Numerous studies have focused on the development of novel and innovative approaches for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury using artificial nerve guide conduits. In this study, we attempted to bridge 3.5-cm defects of the sciatic nerve with a longitudinally oriented collagen conduit (LOCC) loaded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs). The LOCC contains a bundle of longitudinally aligned collagenous fibres enclosed in a hollow collagen tube. Our previous studies showed that an LOCC combined with neurotrophic factors enhances peripheral nerve regeneration. However, it remained unknown whether an LOCC seeded with hUC-MSCs could also promote regeneration. In this study, using various histological and electrophysiological analyses, we found that an LOCC provides mechanical support to newly growing nerves and functions as a structural scaffold for cells, thereby stimulating sciatic nerve regeneration. The LOCC and hUC-MSCs synergistically promoted regeneration and improved the functional recovery in a dog model of sciatic nerve injury. Therefore, the combined use of an LOCC and hUC-MSCs might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.
许多研究都集中在开发新的和创新的方法，使用人工神经引导管治疗周围神经损伤。在这项研究中，我们试图用纵向排列的胶原导管（LOCC）桥接 3.5 厘米长的坐骨神经缺损，该导管负载有人脐带间充质干细胞（hUC-MSCs）。LOCC 包含一束纵向排列的胶原纤维，包裹在中空的胶原管中。我们之前的研究表明，与神经营养因子结合的 LOCC 可增强周围神经再生。然而，尚不清楚负载 hUC-MSCs 的 LOCC 是否也能促进再生。在这项研究中，我们通过各种组织学和电生理学分析发现，LOCC 为新生长的神经提供机械支撑，并作为细胞的结构支架，从而刺激坐骨神经再生。LOCC 和 hUC-MSCs 协同促进再生，并改善了狗坐骨神经损伤模型中的功能恢复。因此，LOCC 和 hUC-MSCs 的联合使用可能具有治疗周围神经损伤的潜力。
