Repair of extended peripheral nerve lesions in rhesus monkeys using acellular allogenic nerve grafts implanted with autologous mesenchymal stem cells.

摘要: Despite intensive efforts in the field of peripheral nerve injury and regeneration, it remains difficult humans to achieve full functional recovery following extended lesions. Optimizing repair injuries has been hindered by lack viable reliable biologic or artificial conduits for bridging gaps. In this study, we utilized chemically extracted acellular allogenic segments implanted with autologous non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) a 40 mm defect rhesus monkey ulnar nerve. We found that severely damaged nerves were structurally functionally repaired within 6 months placement MSC seeded allografts all animals studied (6 6, 100%). Furthermore, was similar observed Schwann cell grafts. The findings presented here are first demonstration successful use MSCs, expanded culture biological conduit, gap primates. Given difficulty isolating purifying sufficient quantities MSCs seed grafts may prove be novel promising therapeutic approach repairing severe humans.