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Isolating Nasal Olfactory Stem Cells from Rodents or Humans
Published on: August 22, 2011
Bone marrow stem cell transplantation to olfactory epithelium
Naoki Ochi1, Kiyoshi Doi, Masahiro Uranagase
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|September 24, 2010
Summary
Bone marrow stem cells were transplanted into mice to treat olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) degeneration. These cells migrated and engrafted, showing potential for developing new therapies for damaged olfactory receptor neurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Regenerative Medicine
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) degeneration impairs sense of smell.
- Current therapeutic strategies for ORN degeneration are limited.
- Bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) show potential for neural regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of bone marrow stem cells for ORN degeneration.
- To evaluate the migration and engraftment of BMSCs in the olfactory epithelium.
Main Methods:
- BrdU-labeled BMSCs were transplanted into Balb/C mice via transnasal injection and systemic tail vein injection.
- Engraftment of BMSCs in the olfactory epithelium was assessed using immunohistochemistry.
Main Results:
- BMSCs showed earlier migration and significantly higher engraftment rates in the olfactory epithelium compared to previous studies using whole bone marrow.
- Migrated BMSCs expressed GAP43, a marker of neuronal growth, but not olfactory marker protein, indicating incomplete differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Engrafted BMSCs differentiated into premature ORNs, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue.
- Further research involving autologous BMSCs and growth/neurotrophic factors is warranted to develop effective treatments for degenerated ORNs.
