Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (8): 1332-1337.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.162769

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Microencapsulation improves inhibitory effects of transplanted olfactory ensheathing cells on pain after sciatic nerve injury

Hao Zhao1, 2, Bao-lin Yang1, Zeng-xu Liu1, Qing Yu3, Wen-jun Zhang2, Keng Yuan4, Hui-hong Zeng5, Gao-chun Zhu1, De-ming Liu1, Qing Li2   

  1. 1 Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
    2 Medical Department, Graduate School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
    3 Library, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
    4 Medical Office, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
    5 Department of Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Received:2015-06-08 Online:2015-08-24 Published:2015-08-24
  • Contact: Zeng-xu Liu, M.D., 1965349157@qq.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81260190; the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province of China, No. 20132BAB205023; a grant from the Science and Technology Research Program of Department of Education of Jiangxi Province in China, No. GJJ13159; a grant from the Science and Technology Program of Department of Health of Jiangxi Province, No. 20132019.

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Abstract:

Olfactory bulb tissue transplantation inhibits P2X2/3 receptor-mediated neuropathic pain. However, the olfactory bulb has a complex cellular composition, and the mechanism underlying the action of purified transplanted olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) remains unclear. In the present study, we microencapsulated OECs in alginic acid, and transplanted free and microencapsulated OECs into the region surrounding the injured sciatic nerve in rat models of chronic constriction injury. We assessed mechanical nociception in the rat models 7 and 14 days after surgery by measuring paw withdrawal threshold, and examined P2X2/3 receptor expression in L4–5 dorsal root ganglia using immunohistochemistry. Rats that received free and microencapsulated OEC transplants showed greater withdrawal thresholds than untreated model rats, and weaker P2X2/3 receptor immunoreactivity in dorsal root ganglia. At 14 days, paw withdrawal threshold was much higher in the microencapsulated OEC-treated animals. Our results confirm that microencapsulated OEC transplantation suppresses P2X2/3 receptor expression in L4–5 dorsal root ganglia in rat models of neuropathic pain and reduces allodynia, and also suggest that transplantation of microencapsulated OECs is more effective than transplantation of free OECs for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Key words: nerve regeneration, peripheral nerve injury, sciatic nerve, microencapsulation, olfactory ensheathing cells, P2X2/3 receptor, neuropathic pain, dorsal root ganglion, sciatic chronic constriction injury, cell transplantation, NSFC grant, neural regeneration