The Potential of Acellular Dermal Matrix Combined With Neural Stem Cells Induced From Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Nerve Tissue Engineering.

INTRODUCTION: Reconstruction of segmental peripheral nerve gap is still challenging when the autografts are unavailable owing to limited availability of donor site and functional recovery. The creation of artificial conduits composed of biological or synthetic materials is still developing. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has been widely studied and its extension and plasticity properties may become suitable nerve conduits under different forms of nerve gaps. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the potential to differentiate into various cell types of different germ layers including neural stem cells (NSCs). The purpose of this experiment is to use ADM as a scaffold combined with NSCs induced by ADSCs to establish neural tissue engineering.

METHODS: The ADSCs were isolated from syringe-liposuction adipose tissue harvested from abdominal fat and then cultured in keratinocyte serum free media to trigger into neural stem cells. Stem cells were confirmed by the expression of surface markers nestin and SOX2 in NSCs with Western blot and immunofluorescent staining. Matrix enzyme treatment was used to obtain ADM to remove immunogenic cells while maintaining the integrity of the basement membrane complex and the extracellular matrix structure of the dermis. The NSCs were cocultured with ADM for 3 days, and survival markers Ki67 and neural stem cell markers nestin were detected.

RESULTS: These NSCs can form neurospheres and express nestin and SOX2. The NSC can further coculture with ADM, and it will continue to express survivor markers and neural stem cell markers on ADM.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence that the combination of ADM and NSC has the same potential as neural tissue engineering as other acellular sciatic nerve.