Open AccessOlfactory Derived Stem Cells Delivered in a Biphasic Conduit Promote Peripheral Nerve Repair In Vivo
Author(s) -
Roche Phoebe,
Alekseeva Tijna,
Widaa Amro,
Ryan Alan,
Matsiko Amos,
Walsh Michael,
Duffy Garry P.,
O'Brien Fergal J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
stem cells translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.781
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 2157-6580
pISSN - 2157-6564
DOI - 10.1002/sctm.16-0420
Subject(s) - nerve guidance conduit , peripheral nerve injury , sciatic nerve , olfactory ensheathing glia , stem cell , medicine , in vivo , regeneration (biology) , nerve injury , pathology , anatomy , biology , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , olfactory bulb , central nervous system
Peripheral nerve injury presents significant therapeutic challenges for recovery of motor and sensory function in patients. Different clinical approaches exist but to date there has been no consensus on the most effective method of treatment. Here, we investigate a novel approach to peripheral nerve repair using olfactory derived stem (ONS) cells delivered in a biphasic collagen and laminin functionalized hyaluronic acid based nerve guidance conduit (NGC). Nerve regeneration was studied across a 10‐mm sciatic nerve gap in Sprague Dawley rats. The effect of ONS cell loading of NGCs with or without nerve growth factor (NGF) supplementation on nerve repair was compared to a cell‐free NGC across a variety of clinical, functional, electrophysiological, and morphologic parameters. Animals implanted with ONS cell loaded NGCs demonstrated improved clinical and electrophysiological outcomes compared to cell free NGC controls. The nerves regenerated across ONS cell loaded NGCs contained significantly more axons than cell‐free NGCs. A return of the nocioceptive withdrawal reflex in ONS cell treated animals indicated an advanced repair stage at a relatively early time point of 8 weeks post implantation. The addition of NGF further improved the outcomes of the repair indicating the potential beneficial effect of a combined stem cell/growth factor treatment strategy delivered on NGCs. S tem C ells T ranslational M edicine 2017;6:1894–1904