Submitted by: Lisa M. Williams, MD
Edited by: Bryan DeSouza, MD
Yurie H, Ikeguchi R, Ohta S, Oda H, Takeuchi H, Matsuda S.
Peripheral nerve regeneration using a bio 3D conduit from undifferentiated bone marrow stromal cells.
The Journal of Hand Surgery. 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.06.074
The reference standard for nerve regeneration includes use of autologous nerve grafting. However, biocompatitibility is low and risk of infection is a concern. To address this issue, a 3D biologic conduit using undifferentiated bone marrow stromal cells (uBMSCs) to promote peripheral nerve regeneration in peripheral nerve injuries involving a nerve gap were studied. Efficacy of this new technique was compared to previously studied fibroblast conduits.
In this study, primary uBMSCs were isolated from femoral bone marrow of Lewis rats. Fibroblasts were harvested from subcutaneous skin tissue. Conduits were made from both cells using a bio 3D printer and interposed onto rat sciatic nerves spanning a 5mm nerve gap. Electrophysiolgic studies showed significantly higher compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude (p<.05) in rat adductor muscles using uBMSCs and a greater amount of myelinating axons were noted in the uBMSC (p<0.5).
Comment: Biologic regeneration techniques targeting peripheral nerve injuries are an emerging area of research. More studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy in humans.