Augmentation of peripheral nerve regeneration by hypoxic allogenic Schwann-like cells in acute nerve injury of Rattus norvegicus

Background: This study investigates nerve regeneration augmentation using hypoxic allogeneic Schwann-like cells by analyzing HIF-1α, CD-31, Neu-N, α-SMA, NCAM, TGF-β, VEGF, and motor function. Methods : This in-vivo study on Rattus norvegicus Wistar divided subjects into intervention (suture plus hypoxic allogeneic SLCs) and control (suture only) groups. SLCs were derived from Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cells using Kingham's protocol with 10% PRP and 1% hypoxia. ELISA, IHC, rt-PCR were done at weeks 3 and 6, and walking track analysis with sciatic function index (SFI) was performed from weeks 0 to 6. Results: The intervention group expressed HIF-1αmore clearly, especially in week 6. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in TGF-b(p=0.002), α-SMA (p=0.000), NCAM (p=0.000), and Neu-N (p=0.049) at week 3, as well as TGF-b (p=0.000), α-SMA (p=0.003), CD-31 (p=0.000), NCAM (p=0.000), and Neu-N (p=0.000) at week 6 between interventions and control group. Significant differences were also found in TGF-b, α-SMA, CD-31, NCAM, and Neu-N between weeks 3 and 6 in the intervention group. Furthermore, differences were also found in the sciatic function index at weeks 2 to 6 (p<0.050) between the intervention group and the control group. Conclusion: Administration of hypoxic-conditioned allogeneic SLCs accelerated peripheral nerve regeneration in acute peripheral nerve injury (PNI), as evidenced by increased TGF-blevels, HIF-1α and NCAM expression, the axonal density of peripheral nerves through the expression of NeuN protein, and the number of capillaries through expression of CD-31; decreased expression of α-SMA; and improved motor function.