Peripheral Nerve Injuries and Transplantation of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells for Axonal Regeneration and Remyelination: Fact or Fiction?

Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2012 · DOI: 10.3390/ijms131012911 · Published: October 10, 2012

Regenerative Medicine Neurology Genetics

Simple Explanation

This chapter reviews studies using OECs as an experimental cell therapy to improve peripheral nerve regeneration. OECs have been studied in the context of enhancing repair of peripheral nerve by direct transplantation in different peripheral nerve lesion models for enhancement of axonal nerve regeneration by providing a scaffold for the regenerating axons as well as trophic factors and directional cues [12]. Peripheral nerve injury constitutes a critical and common clinical problem. While simple nerve repairs can often lead to considerable functional improvement, clinical outcomes are not fully optimal.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Rodents

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Transplanted OECs integrate into peripheral nerve transected by crush injury, form peripheral-like myelin on regenerated peripheral nerve fibers and that the OECs are able to signal the regenerated axons to reconstruct nodes of Ranvier (Figure 1A,B) with proper sodium channel (Nav1.6) organization
2
Microsuture repair combined with OEC transplantation results in improved structural (Figure 2A–C) outcome. Quantitatively measurements of myelinated axons in the OEC implanted nerves demonstrated an increase in myelinated axons after transplantation of OECs.
3
PLGA-OEC conduits also had a greater number of regenerated axons.

Research Summary

Successful nerve regeneration after nerve trauma is not only important for the restoration of motor and sensory functions, but also to reduce the potential for abnormal sensory impulse generation that can occur following neuroma formation. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have been used to improve axonal regeneration and functional outcome in a number of studies in spinal cord injury models. The rationale is that the OECs may provide trophic support and a permissive environment for axonal regeneration. Experimental studies performed in rodents show that transplantation of OECs into injured nerve or implantation of OEC-seeded conduits leads to an enhancement in axonal regeneration and improved functional outcome under some experimental conditions.

Practical Implications

Enhancement of Nerve Repair

OEC transplantation can be used as an adjunct approach to microsuture repair to result in improved structural outcome.

Trophic Support

OECs provide early trophic support leading to earlier onset of regeneration, allowing axons to navigate the injury site before scar tissue develops.

Scaffold Material and Cell Seeding

Establishing the proper combination of conduit material and cell seeding will be important to advance success for peripheral nerve tissue engineering.

Study Limitations

1
Limited number of OEC studies for peripheral nerve injury compared to spinal cord injury.
2
Peripheral nerve injury model studies have focused exclusively on rodents.
3
OEC clinical studies for peripheral nerve repair have not yet been initiated.

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