Research On Sciatic Nerve Derived Fibroblasts For Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

There are abundant fibroblasts in normal sciatic nerves, which play important roles in it. Researches recently have shown that transplantation breast tissue interstitial fibroblasts together with their epithelial cells can promote their tissue remodelingn more effectively. However, the effect of peripheral nerve tissue fibroblasts for the peripheral nerve regeneration is still not clear.Objective: To explore the effect of sciatic nerve fibroblasts transplantation for nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve transection injury and the possible mechanism.Methods: Build a 5mm nerve defect model with a PUR catheter. The six cells groups were injected into the catheter and replanted into the nerve defect individually. The six groups are: pure Matrigel(control blank),sciatic nerve fibroblasts(SN-Fb), Dermal fibroblasts(Dm-Fb),mixing sciatic nerve fibroblasts with Schwann cells in a ratio of 1:1(SN-Fb&SC1:1), mixing sciatic nerve fibroblasts with Schwann cells in a ratio of 1:2(SN-Fb&SC1:2), sciatic nerve Schwann cells(SN-SC). Three months later, histological detection(immunofluorescence staining of Axons, Schwann cells and the extracellular matrix)and target organ function(muscle wet weight statistics and Masson staining) of the regenerated nerves were performed.Results: Transplantation with sciatic nerve fibroblasts alone can produce more extracellular matrix and hinder nerve regeneration. But there is basically no difference between SN-Fb&SC1:2 and pure SC in repairing nerve defect in the regeneration of axons, gastrocnemius atrophy and fibrosis degree.Moreover, there are more SCs in SN-Fb&SC1:2 group than the SC alone group. In the detection of the secretion of neurotrophic factors in vitro, SN-Fb&SC1:2 group were higher than those in SN-SC group.Conclusion: The effect of transplantation with SN-Fb&C1:2 is better than with Schwann cells alone in peripheral nerve repairing. Therefore, Fibroblast may have a synergistic effect with SC in repairing nerve injury, and jointly promote the axonal regeneration.