Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2012, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (10): 1893-1896.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2012.10.040

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Derivation of Schwann cells from stem cells

Derivation of Schwann cells from stem cells   

  1. 1Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen  518060, Guangdong Province, China; 2Department of Physiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; 3Medical Research Center of Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences， Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou  510080, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2011-12-01 Revised:2012-01-10 Online:2012-03-04 Published:2012-03-04
  • Contact: author: Cai Sa, Doctor, Associate professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong Province, China; Department of Physiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China cai_sa@sina.com
  • About author:Zhao An-dong, Assistant researcher, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, Guangdong Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.81000011*, 81000835*; Innovative Talent Breeding Program for Outstanding Youth of Guangdong University, No.LYM091182009*; Shenzhen Basic Research Program, No.JC201005280429A*

PDF

531

Cited

1

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Schwann cells play an important role in the recovery and regeneration of peripheral nervous system (PNS) injury. However, Schwann cells are not easy to obtain directly which lead the limitation on clinical application. 
OBJECTIVE: To review the effect of Schwann cells on nervous system injury and regeneration process, and the potency of other stem cells to differentiate into Schwann cells.
METHODS: A computer-based research on the Pubmed database was conducted to search the articles on Schwann cells participating in the regeneration of nervous system injury and the identification and application of Schwann cells differentiated from other stem cells, the key words were “Schwann cells, nervous system, stem cells”. The repetitive articles were eliminated; each articles and quotations were reviewed during the process of preliminary examination. A total of 29 articles were included according to the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Schwann cells provide a suitable microenvironment for repair and regeneration through the secretion of various cytokines and trophic factors, thereby promote the axonal regeneration. Meanwhile, they can grow around the newborn axons and form the myelin through the mechanism of proliferation and differentiation. A large number of Schwann cells are required to repair the nervous system, but Schwann cells are not easy to directly obtain. Variety of stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, neural crest stem cells and olfactory ensheathing cells can be induced to differentiate into Schwann cell-like cells in certain conditions which provide new hope for the treatment of nervous system injury. Among them, the researches on the mesenchymal stem cells attract the most attention. 

CLC Number: