Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (7): 1135-1141.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2182

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In vitro culture and purification of Schwann cells: a systematic review

Zeng Yanhua1, Hao Yanlei2   

  1. 1College of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, Shandong Province, China; 2Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2020-04-24 Revised:2020-04-28 Accepted:2020-05-28 Online:2021-03-08 Published:2020-12-09
  • Contact: Hao Yanlei, MD, Professor, Chief physician, Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Zeng Yanhua, Master candidate, College of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, Shandong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81771360

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Schwann cells can promote the regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves and serve as seed cells in the engineering repair of peripheral nerve tissue. The effective culture and purification of Schwann cells are the basis of clinical treatment for peripheral nerve injury. This paper summarized the literature of culture of Schwann cells in vitro in recent ten years and made a descriptive review on the research progress of Schwann cell culture and purification, in order to provide references for culture of Schwann cells in vitro.
METHODS: Literature related to Schwann cell isolation, culture and purification was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Medline databases, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and other databases. The keywords included “Schwann cells; isolation; culture; purification”. All the papers obtained from the search were read, analyzed and judged, and finally 62 papers meeting the standards were included.
RESULTS: The classical methods of Schwann cell culture include tissue block culture and enzyme digestion. Purification methods include mitosis resistance, immune selection, specific adhesion, pre degeneration, cold jet, differential adherent, laminin package, low serum, stimulating factor, fluorescence activated cell sorting or magnetic activated cell sorting, immunopanning, and extracorporeal shock wave treatment.  
CONCLUSION: Schwann cells can be cultured and purified in various ways in vitro, and each method has its advantages and disadvantages. How to obtain high-purity Schwann cells quickly and efficiently is still a challenge. Multiple methods can be combined for purification and affective factors can be controlled for Schwann cell proliferation as much as possible. 

Key words: stem cells, Schwann cells, tissue engineering, culture, cell sorting, nerve regeneration, extracorporeal shock wave, systematic review

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