G-CSF-induced mobilization method enhances regeneration potential of colony-derived DPSCs from immature teeth.

The effects of transplanted human dental pulp-derived cells (DPCs) on peripheral nerve regeneration were studied in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury. In one group, DPCs were transplanted into the compression site (cell transplantation group); the control group underwent no transplantation (crushed group). Sciatic nerve regeneration was determined based on the recovery of motor function and histological and immunohistochemical analyses. The cell transplantation group showed improved motor function compared with the crushed group using the CatWalk XT system, which corresponded to a higher ratio of tibialis to anterior muscle weight 14 days after surgery. Histological analysis revealed a smaller interspace area and few vacuoles in the sciatic nerve after cell transplantation compared with the crushed group. The myelin sheath was visualized with Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) staining and anti-myelin basic protein (anti-MBP) antibody labeling; the percentages of LFB-and MBP-positive areas were higher in the cell transplantation group than in the crushed group. Human mitochondria-positive cells were also identified in the sciatic nerve at the transplanta-tion site 14 days after surgery. Taken together, the observed correlation between morphological findings and functional outcomes following DPC transplantation indicates that DPCs promote peripheral nerve regeneration in rats.

No abstract

An inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury is a common clinical problem that can affect a patients' quality of life. Cellular therapy has been proposed as a promising treatment for this injury. However, the current experimental models for IAN injury require surgery to create bone windows that expose the nerve, and these models do not accurately mimic human IAN injuries. Therefore, in this study, a novel experimental model for IAN injury has been established in rats. Using this model, the effects of Schwann cells and their role in the recovery from IAN injuries were investigated. Schwann cells were isolated from rat sciatic nerves and cultured. The first molar in the mandible was extracted and the IAN was immediately injured for 30 min by inserting an insect pin. Then, the Schwann cells or culture medium were transplanted into the extracted sockets of the cell and injury groups, respectively. After the surgery, the cell group displayed significantly increased sensory reflexes in response to mechanical stimulation, regenerated IAN width, and myelin basic protein-positive myelin sheaths when compared with the injury group. In conclusion, a novel animal experimental model for IAN injury has been developed that does not require the creation of a bone window to evaluate the impacts of cell transplantation and demonstrates that Schwann cell transplantation facilitates the regeneration of injured IANs.