Generation of Schwann cell-derived multipotent neurospheres isolated from intact sciatic nerve

Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2012 Dec;8(4):1178-87. doi: 10.1007/s12015-012-9387-2.

Abstract

Schwann cells (SCs) are the supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system and originate from the neural crest. They play a unique role in the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves and have themselves a highly unstable phenotype as demonstrated by their unexpectedly broad differentiation potential. Thus, SCs can be considered as dormant, multipotent neural crest-derived progenitors or stem cells. Upon injury they de-differentiate via cellular reprogramming, re-enter the cell cycle and participate in the regeneration of the nerve. Here we describe a protocol for efficient generation of neurospheres from intact adult rat and murine sciatic nerve without the need of experimental in vivo pre-degeneration of the nerve prior to Schwann cell isolation. After isolation and removal of the connective tissue, the nerves are initially plated on poly-D-lysine coated cell culture plates followed by migration of the cells up to 80% confluence and a subsequent switch to serum-free medium leading to formation of multipotent neurospheres. In this context, migration of SCs from the isolated nerve, followed by serum-free cultivation of isolated SCs as neurospheres mimics the injury and reprograms fully differentiated SCs into a multipotent, neural crest-derived stem cell phenotype. This protocol allows reproducible generation of multipotent Schwann cell-derived neurospheres from sciatic nerve through cellular reprogramming by culture, potentially marking a starting point for future detailed investigations of the de-differentiation process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Dedifferentiation
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neural Crest / cytology
  • Neural Crest / metabolism
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Schwann Cells / cytology*
  • Schwann Cells / metabolism
  • Sciatic Nerve / cytology*
  • Sciatic Nerve / metabolism
  • Spheroids, Cellular / cytology*
  • Spheroids, Cellular / metabolism