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Co-transplantation of Schwann cells and neural stem cells in the laminin-chitosan-PLGA nerve conduit to repair the injured recurrent laryngeal nerve in SD rats

  • Tissue Engineering Constructs and Cell Substrates
  • Original Research
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Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate the possibility and efficacy of recurrent laryngeal nerve repair by transplantation of co-cultured Schwann cells and neural stem cells (NSCs) in laminin-chitosan-poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (laminin-chitosan-PLGA) nerve conduits in rats. A laminin-chitosan-PLGA conduit was used in a rat recurrent laryngeal nerve transection model. The rat recurrent laryngeal nerve was dissected to generate a 5  mm defect. Then, a laminin-chitosan-PLGA nerve conduit with or without Schwann cells and NSCs in the lumen was transplanted into the defect. A total of 96 female rats were randomised into six groups: co-culture of NSCs and Schwann cells in the nerve conduit group (CO), Schwann cells only in the nerve conduit group (SC), neural stem cells only in the nerve conduit group (NSC-only), nerve conduit group (null), autologous nerve graft group (autograft) and sham operation group (sham). Regenerated nerves were evaluated by histological and functional assessment at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. The diameter and area of the regenerated myelin sheath, as well as the secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor in laryngeal muscle or regenerated nerve tissue in the CO group, were significantly better than they were in the SC, NSC-only and null groups (all P values  <  0.05). Immunofluorescence showed that the CO group had significantly more neurofilament-200 immunoreactive and S-100 immunoreactive fibres than the SC, NSC-only and null groups (all P values  <  0.05). The performance of the CO groups and autograft groups was found to be similar by laryngoscopy. Arytenoid cartilage motion recovery in these two groups was significantly better than it was in the other groups (all P values  <  0.05). Our results indicated that co-culture of Schwann cells and NSCs in laminin-chitosan-PLGA conduits might promote injured nerve regeneration. This method might be a promising alternative for defective nerve repair.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Donghua University, College of Textiles, for their technical support.

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 81800893 and 81170925).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, PR China

    Yu Li, Yongzhi Men, Baoxin Wang, Xinwei Chen & Ziwei Yu

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  1. Yu Li
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  2. Yongzhi Men
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  3. Baoxin Wang
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  4. Xinwei Chen
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Correspondence to Ziwei Yu.

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Li, Y., Men, Y., Wang, B. et al. Co-transplantation of Schwann cells and neural stem cells in the laminin-chitosan-PLGA nerve conduit to repair the injured recurrent laryngeal nerve in SD rats. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 31, 99 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-020-06436-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-020-06436-z

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