Siwei Qu1, Ning Ma1, Weixin Wang1, Sen Chen1, Qi Wu1, Yangqun Li1, Zhe Yang2. 1. 2nd Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33 Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100144, China. 2. 2nd Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 33 Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100144, China. yangzhe@psh.pumc.edu.cn.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Given that denervation atrophy often occurs in muscle after peripheral nerve injury, the effects of injections of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into muscle after peripheral nerve injury were examined. METHODS: hADSCs were isolated from human subcutaneous fat tissue, and PRP was prepared from rat whole blood before injection into a rat sciatic nerve injury model. Muscle atrophy was evaluated by quantitating the gross musculature and muscle fiber area and walking footprint analysis. RESULTS: At 4 weeks post-surgery, there were significant differences in the sciatic functional index between experimental (injected with hADSCs, PRP, or combined hADSCs + PRP) and non-operated groups (p < 0.0001), but no significant differences were observed between the different treatment groups (p > 0.05). Post hoc Bonferroni tests also showed significant differences in the wet muscle weight ratios of hADSC, PRP, and combined groups compared to PBS group. The gastrocnemius muscle fiber area was larger in hADSC group and the combined group compared to PBS group at 4 weeks post-surgery. CONCLUSION: The injection of hADSCs delays muscular atrophy after sciatic nerve injury in rats; thus, hADSCs are a promising alternative for regenerating atrophied muscle.
INTRODUCTION: Given that denervation atrophy often occurs in muscle after peripheral nerve injury, the effects of injections of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into muscle after peripheral nerve injury were examined. METHODS: hADSCs were isolated from human subcutaneous fat tissue, and PRP was prepared from rat whole blood before injection into a rat sciatic nerve injury model. Muscle atrophy was evaluated by quantitating the gross musculature and muscle fiber area and walking footprint analysis. RESULTS: At 4 weeks post-surgery, there were significant differences in the sciatic functional index between experimental (injected with hADSCs, PRP, or combined hADSCs + PRP) and non-operated groups (p < 0.0001), but no significant differences were observed between the different treatment groups (p > 0.05). Post hoc Bonferroni tests also showed significant differences in the wet muscle weight ratios of hADSC, PRP, and combined groups compared to PBS group. The gastrocnemius muscle fiber area was larger in hADSC group and the combined group compared to PBS group at 4 weeks post-surgery. CONCLUSION: The injection of hADSCs delays muscular atrophy after sciatic nerve injury in rats; thus, hADSCs are a promising alternative for regenerating atrophied muscle.