Gu Xiao-Kun, Li Xin-Rui, Lu Mei-Ling, Xu Hui
Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University; Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China.
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
Neural Regen Res. 2020 Oct;15(10):1955-1961. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.280324.
Schwann cell proliferation, migration and remyelination of regenerating axons contribute to regeneration after peripheral nervous system injury. Lithium promotes remyelination by Schwann cells and improves peripheral nerve regeneration. However, whether lithium modulates other phenotypes of Schwann cells, especially their proliferation and migration remains elusive. In the current study, primary Schwann cells from rat sciatic nerve stumps were cultured and exposed to 0, 5, 10, 15, or 30 mM lithium chloride (LiCl) for 24 hours. The effects of LiCl on Schwann cell proliferation and migration were examined using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, Transwell and wound healing assays. Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays showed that 5, 10, 15, and 30 mM LiCl significantly increased the viability and proliferation rate of Schwann cells. Transwell-based migration assays and wound healing assays showed that 10, 15, and 30 mM LiCl suppressed the migratory ability of Schwann cells. Furthermore, the effects of LiCl on the proliferation and migration phenotypes of Schwann cells were mostly dose-dependent. These data indicate that lithium treatment significantly promotes the proliferation and inhibits the migratory ability of Schwann cells. This conclusion will inform strategies to promote the repair and regeneration of peripheral nerves. All of the animal experiments in this study were ethically approved by the Administration Committee of Experimental Animal Center of Nantong University, China (approval No. 20170320-017) on March 2, 2017.
施万细胞的增殖、迁移以及再生轴突的髓鞘再生有助于周围神经系统损伤后的修复。锂可促进施万细胞的髓鞘再生并改善周围神经再生。然而，锂是否会调节施万细胞的其他表型，尤其是其增殖和迁移能力，仍不清楚。在本研究中，培养大鼠坐骨神经残端的原代施万细胞，并将其暴露于0、5、10、15或30 mM的氯化锂（LiCl）中24小时。使用细胞计数试剂盒-8、5-乙炔基-2'-脱氧尿苷、Transwell和伤口愈合试验检测LiCl对施万细胞增殖和迁移的影响。细胞计数试剂盒-8和5-乙炔基-2'-脱氧尿苷试验表明，5、10、15和30 mM的LiCl显著提高了施万细胞的活力和增殖率。基于Transwell的迁移试验和伤口愈合试验表明，10、15和30 mM的LiCl抑制了施万细胞的迁移能力。此外，LiCl对施万细胞增殖和迁移表型的影响大多呈剂量依赖性。这些数据表明，锂处理可显著促进施万细胞的增殖并抑制其迁移能力。这一结论将为促进周围神经修复和再生的策略提供依据。本研究中的所有动物实验均于2017年3月2日获得中国南通大学实验动物中心管理委员会的伦理批准（批准号：20170320-017）。
