Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is characterized by a loss of cellular and axonal integrity, often leading to limited functional recovery and pain. Many PNIs are not amenable to repair with traditional techniques; however, cell therapies, particularly Schwann cells (SCs), offer the promise of neural t...

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Main Authors: Emily L Errante, Joseph Yunga Tigre, Ericka A Schaeffer, Meredith C Costello, Andrew J Kloehn, Aiko Puerto, Aisha Khan, Yelena Pressman, Risset Silvera, Francisco J Sanchez, Brian R Noga, W Dalton Dietrich, Allan D Levi, S Shelby Burks
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313292
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author Emily L Errante
Joseph Yunga Tigre
Ericka A Schaeffer
Meredith C Costello
Andrew J Kloehn
Aiko Puerto
Aisha Khan
Yelena Pressman
Risset Silvera
Francisco J Sanchez
Brian R Noga
W Dalton Dietrich
Allan D Levi
S Shelby Burks
author_facet Emily L Errante
Joseph Yunga Tigre
Ericka A Schaeffer
Meredith C Costello
Andrew J Kloehn
Aiko Puerto
Aisha Khan
Yelena Pressman
Risset Silvera
Francisco J Sanchez
Brian R Noga
W Dalton Dietrich
Allan D Levi
S Shelby Burks
author_sort Emily L Errante
collection DOAJ
description Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is characterized by a loss of cellular and axonal integrity, often leading to limited functional recovery and pain. Many PNIs are not amenable to repair with traditional techniques; however, cell therapies, particularly Schwann cells (SCs), offer the promise of neural tissue replacement and functional improvement. Exosomes, which carry cellular signaling molecules, can be secreted by SCs and have shown promise in PNI. Our laboratory has had success using SCs in preclinical and clinical treatment settings. Transplanted cells have several known limitations, which exosomes mitigate. To that end, the current study investigated if implanted SC-derived exosomes in conduits, conduits with SCs, reverse autograft, or empty conduits comparably improve axonal regeneration and pain outcomes 16-weeks after repair of a long gap PNI in adult rats. Results show that there were no differences between groups in the von Frey filament testing or in the Hargreaves test. Electrophysiological testing showed a significant difference between the injured (ipsilateral) and uninjured (contralateral) limbs while histological assessment showed a significant difference between axonal counts in different areas of the conduit. Based on the results of the current study, more research is needed to understand the therapeutic role of exosomes in PNI.
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spelling doaj-art-ff9436423c56459d9fe125a036ee28aa2025-01-17T05:31:42ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031329210.1371/journal.pone.0313292Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.Emily L ErranteJoseph Yunga TigreEricka A SchaefferMeredith C CostelloAndrew J KloehnAiko PuertoAisha KhanYelena PressmanRisset SilveraFrancisco J SanchezBrian R NogaW Dalton DietrichAllan D LeviS Shelby BurksPeripheral nerve injury (PNI) is characterized by a loss of cellular and axonal integrity, often leading to limited functional recovery and pain. Many PNIs are not amenable to repair with traditional techniques; however, cell therapies, particularly Schwann cells (SCs), offer the promise of neural tissue replacement and functional improvement. Exosomes, which carry cellular signaling molecules, can be secreted by SCs and have shown promise in PNI. Our laboratory has had success using SCs in preclinical and clinical treatment settings. Transplanted cells have several known limitations, which exosomes mitigate. To that end, the current study investigated if implanted SC-derived exosomes in conduits, conduits with SCs, reverse autograft, or empty conduits comparably improve axonal regeneration and pain outcomes 16-weeks after repair of a long gap PNI in adult rats. Results show that there were no differences between groups in the von Frey filament testing or in the Hargreaves test. Electrophysiological testing showed a significant difference between the injured (ipsilateral) and uninjured (contralateral) limbs while histological assessment showed a significant difference between axonal counts in different areas of the conduit. Based on the results of the current study, more research is needed to understand the therapeutic role of exosomes in PNI.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313292
spellingShingle Emily L Errante
Joseph Yunga Tigre
Ericka A Schaeffer
Meredith C Costello
Andrew J Kloehn
Aiko Puerto
Aisha Khan
Yelena Pressman
Risset Silvera
Francisco J Sanchez
Brian R Noga
W Dalton Dietrich
Allan D Levi
S Shelby Burks
Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.
PLoS ONE
title Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.
title_full Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.
title_fullStr Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.
title_short Comparison of cellular-based therapies following a long-segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model.
title_sort comparison of cellular based therapies following a long segmental peripheral nerve defect in a rat model
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313292
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