Adipose-Derived Stem Cells may Improve Nerve Regeneration

Stem cell researchers led by Dr Adam Reid, present a review of the current literature on the suitability of adipose-derived stem cells in peripheral nerve repair.

Th study took place at the Blond McIndoe Laboratory, University of Manchester, UK. Injuries to peripheral nerves are common and cause life-changing problems for patients alongside high social and health care costs for society. Current clinical treatment relies on sacrificing a nerve from elsewhere in the body to provide a nerve graft at the injury site, but much work has been done to develop a bioengineered nerve graft that would not require this sacrifice. Stem cells are prime candidates as accelerators of regeneration in these nerve grafts.

Microtubule-Based Strategy may Promote Nerve Regeneration After Injury
Damaged axons have the capacity to regenerate after injury, but the regenerative capacity of the axon, particularly axons of the central nervous system, is quite limited.

This prospect, reported in Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 9, No.14, 2014), presents the current literature on the potential of adipose-derived stem cells as tools to improve nerve regeneration through bioengineered nerve grafts. "Adipose-derived stem cells have the potential to stimulate improved nerve regeneration", stated the authors. "Their incorporation into bioengineered nerve graft treatments could revolutionize the current clinical approach to peripheral nerve repair".

Source-Eurekalert

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