[Future views and challenges to the peripheral nerve regeneration by cell based therapy]

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology

Context:

• Chronic degenerative diseases and traumatic injuries impair neuronal and muscle function.
• Cell transplantation is a potential therapeutic strategy for neural disorders.
• Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer advantages for cell therapy due to ease of isolation and expansion.

Purpose:

• To develop a method for efficient induction of functional neurons, skeletal muscle cells, and Schwann cells from MSCs.
• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived cells in animal models of neurodegenerative and muscle degenerative diseases.

Summary:

• A novel method efficiently induces functional neurons, skeletal muscle cells, and Schwann cells from rat and human MSCs.
• Transplantation of induced neurons and Schwann cells improved outcomes in animal models of Parkinson's disease, stroke, peripheral nerve injury, and spinal cord injury.
• Induced skeletal muscle cells differentiated into muscle fibers and contained regenerative Pax7-positive cells, showing potential for treating muscle degeneration.

Impact:

• Demonstrates the potential of MSC-derived cells for clinical applications in treating neurodegenerative and muscle degenerative conditions.
• Highlights the successful integration and functional recovery observed after transplantation in various animal models.
• Suggests MSCs as a versatile cell source for regenerative medicine, overcoming ethical and technical challenges associated with other stem cell types.