Predicting in vivo therapeutic efficacy of CelTrac1000-labeled hair follicle epidermal neural crest stem cells in models of repairing rat facial nerve defects via second near-infrared fluorescence imaging

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2024-09, Vol.352, p.122869, Article 122869
• Main Authors: Lv, Shangrui, Zhu, Guochen, Li, Qianwen, Zhang, Jing, Tang, Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acellular nerve allografts; CelTrac1000; Epidermal neural crest stem cells; Facial nerve defects; Second near-infrared fluorescence imaging
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122869

To detect the therapeutic efficacy of CelTrac1000-labeled hair follicle epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSCs) on repairing facial nerve defects by second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging. Firstly, CelTrac1000-labeled EPI-NCSCs were microinjected into the acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) to bridge a 10-mm-long gap in the buccal branch of facial nerve in adult rats. Then, Celtrac1000-labeled EPI-NCSCs were detected by NIR-II fluorescence imaging system to visualize the behavior of the transplanted cells in vivo. Additionally, the effect of the transplanted EPI-NCSCs on repairing facial nerve defect was examined. Through 14 weeks of dynamic observation, the transplanted EPI-NCSCs survived in the ANAs in vivo after surgery. Meanwhile, the region of the NIR-II fluorescence signals was gradually limited to be consistent with the direction of the regenerative nerve segment. Furthermore, the results of functional and morphological analysis showed that the transplanted EPI-NCSCs could promote the recovery of facial paralysis and neural regeneration after injury. Our research provides a novel way to track the transplanted cells in preclinical studies of cell therapy for facial paralysis, and demonstrates the therapeutic potential of EPI-NCSCs combined with ANAs in bridging rat facial nerve defects.