Therapeutic effects of peripherally administrated neural crest stem cells on pain and spinal cord changes after sciatic nerve transection

• Published in: Stem cell research & therapy 2021-03, Vol.12 (1), p.180-180, Article 180
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yang, Xu, Xiang, Tong, Yuxin, Zhou, Xijie, Du, Jian, Choi, In Young, Yue, Shouwei, Lee, Gabsang, Johnson, Blake N, Jia, Xiaofeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Antibodies; Behavior; Brain injury; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Calcitonin; Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Calcium; Capsaicin receptors; Cell activation; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Gait; Glial activation; Glial cells; Glial fibrillary acidic protein; Health aspects; Immunofluorescence; Inflammation; Investigations; Latency; Mechanical properties; Microglia; Neural crest; Neural crest stem cells; Neuronal-glial interactions; Neuropathic pain; NF-κB protein; Pain; Pain perception; Peripheral nerve injury; Peripheral nerves; Peripheral neuropathy; Proteins; Quality of life; Sciatic nerve; Spinal cord; Spinal cord injuries; Stem cells; Transplantation
• ISSN: 1757-6512; 1757-6512
• DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02200-4

Severe peripheral nerve injury significantly affects patients' quality of life and induces neuropathic pain. Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) exhibit several attractive characteristics for cell-based therapies following peripheral nerve injury. Here, we investigate the therapeutic effect of NCSC therapy and associated changes in the spinal cord in a sciatic nerve transection (SNT) model. Complex sciatic nerve gap injuries in rats were repaired with cell-free and cell-laden nerve scaffolds for 12 weeks (scaffold and NCSC groups, respectively). Catwalk gait analysis was used to assess the motor function recovery. The mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency were used to assess the development of neuropathic pain. Activation of glial cells was examined by immunofluorescence analyses. Spinal levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), NF-κB P65, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), growth-associated protein (GAP)-43, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and inflammation factors were calculated by western blot analysis. Catwalk gait analysis showed that animals in the NCSC group exhibited a higher stand index and Max intensity At (%) relative to those that received the cell-free scaffold (scaffold group) (p