Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (4): 651-658.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.155442

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Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells promote peripheral nerve repair via paracrine mechanisms

Zhi-yuan Guo 1, Xun Sun 1, Xiao-long Xu 1, Qing Zhao 1, Jiang Peng 1, 2, Yu Wang 1, 2,   

  1. 1 Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
    2 The Neural Regeneration Co-innovation Center of Jiangsu Province, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2015-02-10 Online:2015-04-22 Published:2015-04-22
  • Contact: Yu Wang, M.D., wangwangdian628@126.com
  • Supported by:

    This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31100696, 31170946; a grant from the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program), No. 2012AA020502; a grant from the National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China (973 Program), No. 2014CB542201; and a grant from Beijing Metropolis Beijing Nova Program, No. 2011115.

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Abstract:

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) represent a promising young-state stem cell source for cell-based therapy. hUCMSC transplantation into the transected sciatic nerve promotes axonal regeneration and functional recovery. To further clarify the paracrine effects of hUCMSCs on nerve regeneration, we performed human cytokine antibody array analysis, which revealed that hUCMSCs express 14 important neurotrophic factors. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial-derived neurotrophic factor, hepatocyte growth factor, neurotrophin-3, basic fibroblast growth factor, type I collagen, fibronectin and laminin were highly expressed. Treatment with hUCMSC-conditioned medium enhanced Schwann cell viability and proliferation, increased nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in Schwann cells, and enhanced neurite growth from dorsal root ganglion explants. These findings suggest that paracrine action may be a key mechanism underlying the effects of hUCMSCs in peripheral nerve repair.

Key words: nerve regeneration, human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, conditioned medium, Schwann cells, dorsal root ganglion, axons, peripheral nerve regeneration, neurotrophic factors, neural regeneration