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Chitosan Nerve Grafts Incorporated with SKP-SC-EVs Induce Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

  • Original Article
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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Repair of long-distance peripheral nerve defects remains an important clinical problem. Nerve grafts incorporated with extracellular vesicles (EVs) from various cell types have been developed to bridge peripheral nerve defects. In our previous research, EVs obtained from skin-derived precursor Schwann cells (SKP-SC-EVs) were demonstrated to promote neurite outgrowth in cultured cells and facilitate nerve regeneration in animal studies.

METHODS:

To further assess the functions of SKP-SC-EVs in nerve repair, we incorporated SKP-SC-EVs and Matrigel into chitosan nerve conduits (EV-NG) for repairing a 15-mm long-distance sciatic nerve defect in a rat model. Behavioral analysis, electrophysiological recording, histological investigation, molecular analysis, and morphometric assessment were carried out.

RESULTS:

The results revealed EV-NG significantly improved motor and sensory function recovery compared with nerve conduits (NG) without EVs incorporation. The outgrowth and myelination of regenerated axons were improved, while the atrophy of target muscles induced by denervation was alleviated after EVs addition.

CONCLUSION:

Our data indicated SKP-SC-EVs incorporation into nerve grafts represents a promising method for extended peripheral nerve damage repair.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82201509), National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFA0104700), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu High Education Institutions (PAPD).

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Author notes

  1. Xinyang Zhou, Miaomei Yu are contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Xinyang Zhou

  2. Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China

    Xinyang Zhou, Miaomei Yu, Daiyue Chen, Chunyan Deng, Qi Zhang, Xiaosong Gu & Fei Ding

  3. Clinical Medical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China

    Miaomei Yu

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Contributions

XYZ and MMY: experiment and manuscript drafting. XYZ, MMY, DYC, CYD and QZ: data analysis and figure preparation. XSG and FD: study design and manuscript revision. All authors approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Fei Ding.

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The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Ethical Statement

The animal study was reviewed and approved by the Administration Committee of Experimental Animals of institutional animal care guidelines of Nantong University (IACUC no. S20201025-003) and Jiangsu Province, China.

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Zhou, X., Yu, M., Chen, D. et al. Chitosan Nerve Grafts Incorporated with SKP-SC-EVs Induce Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. Tissue Eng Regen Med 20, 309–322 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-022-00517-6

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