Exosomes from human adipose-derived stem cells promote sciatic nerve regeneration via optimizing Schwann cell function.

Abstract

Human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have a potential for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. Recent studies demonstrated that stem cells can mediate therapeutic effect by secreting exosomes. We aimed to investigate the effect of human ASCs derived exosomes (ASC-Exos) on peripheral nerve regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed after being internalized by Schwann cells (SCs), ASC-Exos significantly promoted SC proliferation, migration, myelination, and secretion of neurotrophic factors by upregulating corresponding genes in vitro. We next evaluated the efficacy of ASC-Exo therapy in a rat sciatic nerve transection model with a 10-mm gap. Axon regeneration, myelination, and restoration of denervation muscle atrophy in ASC-Exos treated group was significantly improved compared to vehicle control. This study demonstrates that ASC-Exos effectively promote peripheral nerve regeneration via optimizing SC function and thereby represent a novel therapeutic strategy for regenerative medicine and nerve tissue engineering.

• Authors: Jing Chen, Sen Ren, Dominik Duscher, Yu Kang, Yutian Liu, Cheng Wang, Meng Yuan, Guojun Guo, Hewei Xiong, Peng Zhan, Yang Wang, Hans-Günther Machens, Zhenbing Chen
• Journal: Journal of cellular physiology (J Cell Physiol) Vol. 234 Issue 12 Pg. 23097-23110 (12 2019) ISSN: 1097-4652 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31124125 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics

• Animals
• Axons (metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Differentiation (genetics)
• Cell Movement (genetics)
• Cell Proliferation (genetics)
• Exosomes (genetics, transplantation)
• Humans
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells (cytology, metabolism)
• Muscular Atrophy (genetics, pathology, therapy)
• Nerve Fibers, Myelinated (metabolism)
• Nerve Regeneration (genetics)
• Peripheral Nerve Injuries (genetics, pathology, therapy)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Recovery of Function (genetics)
• Schwann Cells (transplantation)
• Sciatic Nerve (growth & development, pathology)