Human Olfactory Ecto-mesenchymal Stem Cells Displaying Schwann-cell-like Phenotypes and Promoting Neurite Outgrowth in Vitro

Maedeh Entezari; Mehrdad Bakhtiari; Fatemeh Moradi; Masoud Mozafari; Zohreh Bagher; Mansoureh Soleimani

doi:10.32598/bcn.2021.3542.1

Human Olfactory Ecto-mesenchymal Stem Cells Displaying Schwann-cell-like Phenotypes and Promoting Neurite Outgrowth in Vitro

Basic Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jan-Feb;14(1):31-42. doi: 10.32598/bcn.2021.3542.1. Epub 2023 Jan 1.

Authors

Maedeh Entezari^{1

2}, Mehrdad Bakhtiari^{1

2}, Fatemeh Moradi^{1

2}, Masoud Mozafari³, Zohreh Bagher^{3

4}, Mansoureh Soleimani^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Strategies of Schwann cell (SC) transplantation for regeneration of peripheral nerve injury involve many limitations. Stem cells can be used as alternative cell source for differentiation into Schwann cells. Given the high potential of neural crest-derived stem cells for the generation of multiple cell lineages, in this research, we considered whether olfactory ectomesenchymal stem cells (OE-MSCs) derived from neural crest can spontaneously differentiate into SC lineage.

Methods: OE-MSCs were isolated from human nasal mucosa and characterized by the mesenchymal and neural crest markers. The cells were cultured in glial growth factors-free medium and further investigated in terms of the phenotypic and functional properties.

Results: Immunocytochemical staining and real-time PCR analysis indicated that the cultured OE-MSCs expressed SCs markers, SOX10, p75, S100, GFAP and MBP, differentiation indicative. It was found that the cells could secrete neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). Furthermore, after co-cultured with PC12, the mean neurite length was enhanced by OE-MSCs.

Conclusion: The findings indicated that OE-MSCs could be differentiated spontaneously into SC-like phenotypes, suggesting their applications for transplantation in peripheral nerve injuries.

Keywords: Olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells; Peripheral nerve regeneration; Schwann cell; Spontaneous differentiation.