Topical Application of Human Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem CellsAccelerates Mouse Sciatic Nerve Recovery and is Associated with Upregulated NeurotrophicFactor Expression

摘要

Peripheral nerve regeneration following injury is often slow and impaired, which resultsin weakened and denervated muscle with subsequent atrophy. Human Wharton’s jellymesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSC) have potential regenerative properties which, however,remain unknown in mouse nerve recovery. This study investigated the effect of the topicalapplication of hWJ-MSC onto repairing transected sciatic nerves in a mouse model. Humanadipocyte-derived stem cells (hADSC) were used as a positive control. The sciatic nerve ofBALB/c mice was transected at a fixed point and repaired under the microscope using 10-0sutures. hWJ-MSC and hADSC were applied to the site of repair and mice were followed upfor 1 year. The hWJ-MSC group had significantly better functional recovery of five-toespread and gait angles compared with the negative control and hADSC groups. hWJ-MSCimproved sciatic nerve regeneration in a dose-dependent fashion. The hWJ-MSC group had abetter quality of regenerated nerve with an increased number of myelinated axonsthroughout. hWJ-MSC appear to be safe in mice after 1 year of follow-up. hWJ-MSC alsoexpressed higher levels of neurotrophic factor-3, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, andglial-derived neurotrophic factor than hADSC. hWJ-MSC may promote better nerve recoverythan hADSC because of this upregulation of neurotrophic factors.