Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2019, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (8): 1343-1351.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.253511

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Therapeutic strategies for peripheral nerve injury:decellularized nerve conduits and Schwann cell transplantation

Gong-Hai Han 1, 2 , Jiang Peng 2 , Ping Liu 3 , Xiao Ding 4 , Shuai Wei 4 , Sheng Lu 5 , Yu Wang 2   

  1. 1 Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
    2 Institute of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
    3 Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
    4 Shihezi University Medical College, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
    5 920 th Hospital of Joint Service Support Force, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
  • Online:2019-08-15 Published:2019-08-15
  • Contact: Sheng Lu, MD, drlusheng@163.com; Yu Wang, PhD, wangwangdian628@126.com.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Key R & D Program of China, No. 2017YFA0104701 (to YW); the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31771052 (to YW); the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing of China, No. 7172202 (to YW); the PLA Youth Training Project for Medical Science of China, No. 16QNP144 (to YW).

Abstract:

In recent years, the use of Schwann cell transplantation to repair peripheral nerve injury has attracted much attention. Animal-based studies show that the transplantation of Schwann cells in combination with nerve scaffolds promotes the repair of injured peripheral nerves. Autologous Schwann cell transplantation in humans has been reported recently. This article reviews current methods for removing the extracellular matrix and analyzes its composition and function. The development and secretory products of Schwann cells are also reviewed. The methods for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries that use myelin and Schwann cell transplantation are assessed. This survey of the literature data shows that using a decellularized nerve conduit combined with Schwann cells represents an effective strategy for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. This analysis provides a comprehensive basis on which to make clinical decisions for the repair of peripheral nerve injury.

Key words: nerve regeneration, peripheral nerve injury, nerve conduits, decellularization, extracellular matrix, Schwann cell, neural regeneration