Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2025
10:33
Transplantation of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells to Evaluate Functional Recovery after Peripheral Nerve Injury
Published on: February 23, 2014
11.9K
Olfactory ensheathing cells and neuropathic pain
Ji-Peng Liu1,2, Jia-Ling Wang2, Bai-Er Hu3
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|May 24, 2023
Summary
Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) show promise for treating nerve damage and neuropathic pain (NPP). OEC transplantation may repair nerves and reduce pain, offering a new therapeutic avenue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Regenerative Medicine
- Pain Research
Background:
- Nerve damage causes functional impairment and neuropathic pain (NPP), significantly impacting patient quality of life.
- Current treatments for NPP are limited, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Cell transplantation, particularly using olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), is emerging as a promising approach for nerve injury and pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of OEC biology and NPP pathogenesis.
- To discuss the therapeutic potential of OEC transplantation for central nervous system injuries and NPP.
- To identify challenges and future directions for OEC-based pain treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on OEC biology, NPP mechanisms, and cell transplantation studies.
- Analysis of OEC functions, including neurotrophic factor secretion and axon regeneration promotion.
- Discussion of preclinical and clinical findings regarding OEC transplantation efficacy.
Main Results:
- OECs possess unique properties for nerve repair, including self-renewal and secretion of neurotrophic factors.
- Transplantation of OECs has demonstrated efficacy in repairing damaged nerves and exerting analgesic effects.
- Evidence suggests OEC transplantation can inhibit NPP, though further research is needed.
Conclusions:
- OEC transplantation holds significant therapeutic potential for treating nerve injuries and neuropathic pain.
- Understanding OEC biology and NPP pathogenesis is crucial for optimizing cell-based therapies.
- Addressing potential challenges in OEC transplantation is key to advancing its clinical application for pain management.
Related Concept Videos
01:44Nociception
28.1K
Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain.
28.1K
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
9.4K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
9.4K
01:25Olfaction
44.5K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
44.5K
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
8.8K
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
The olfactory...
8.8K
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
676
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
676
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
5.2K
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
5.2K