A new method for Schwann-like cell differentiation of adipose derived stem cells

Peripheral nerve repair can be enhanced by Schwann cell transplantation, but the clinical application of this procedure is limited by donor site morbidity and the inability to quickly generate a sufficient number of cells. Thus, alternative cell systems for the generation of Schwann cells are desired. Schwann-like cell induced from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) may be one of the ideal alternative cell systems for Schwann cell generation. Although co-culture with Schwann cells or chemicals combined with a mixture of glial growth factors are often utilized for Schwann cell-like differentiation of ADSCs, these methods are usually complicated or expensive. In this experiment, the rat sciatic nerve was cut, and then soaked in culture medium for two days. The treated culture medium was used as an induction agent after filtering. The obtained ADSCs were incubated with the above induction culture medium for five days. Then, expression of the typical Schwann cell markers, S-100 and GFAP proteins was determined by immunocytochemical staining and Western blotting. The results showed that almost all of the treated ADSCs displayed a spindle shape like morphology after being incubated with induction culture medium for 24h and expressed S-100 and GFAP proteins after five days. All of these characteristics of differentiated rat ADSCs were similar to genuine Schwann cells. Thus, this new method, which utilized trophic factors secreted from sciatic nerve leachate, was capable of inducing ADSC differentiation into Schwann-like cell.