Open AccessA Modular Assembly of Spinal Cord–Like Tissue Allows Targeted Tissue Repair in the Transected Spinal Cord
Author(s) -
Lai BiQin,
Feng Bo,
Che MingTian,
Wang LaiJian,
Cai Song,
Huang MengYao,
Gu HuaiYu,
Jiang Bing,
Ling EngAng,
Li Meng,
Zeng Xiang,
Zeng YuanShan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.201800261
Subject(s) - spinal cord , gdf7 , white matter , transplantation , anatomy , neuroscience , tissue engineering , central nervous system , regeneration (biology) , axon , grey matter , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biomedical engineering , embryonic stem cell , surgery , biochemistry , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , gene
Abstract Tissue engineering–based neural construction holds promise in providing organoids with defined differentiation and therapeutic potentials. Here, a bioengineered transplantable spinal cord–like tissue (SCLT) is assembled in vitro by simulating the white matter and gray matter composition of the spinal cord using neural stem cell–based tissue engineering technique. Whether the organoid would execute targeted repair in injured spinal cord is evaluated. The integrated SCLT, assembled by white matter–like tissue (WMLT) module and gray matter–like tissue (GMLT) module, shares architectural, phenotypic, and functional similarities to the adult rat spinal cord. Organotypic coculturing with the dorsal root ganglion or muscle cells shows that the SCLT embraces spinal cord organogenesis potentials to establish connections with the targets, respectively. Transplantation of the SCLT into the transected spinal cord results in a significant motor function recovery of the paralyzed hind limbs in rats. Additionally, targeted spinal cord tissue repair is achieved by the modular design of SCLT, as evidenced by an increased remyelination in the WMLT area and an enlarged innervation in the GMLT area. More importantly, the pro‐regeneration milieu facilitates the formation of a neuronal relay by the donor neurons, allowing the conduction of descending and ascending neural inputs.