Tissue-Engineered Nerve Constructs Under a Microgravity System for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded in a 3D scaffold often present characteristics of low proliferation and migration, which affect the microstructure of tissue-engineered nerves (TENs) and impair the therapeutic effects of nerve defects. By promoting MSC differentiation and mass/nutrient transport, rotary cell culture systems (RCCSs) display potential for advancing the construction of MSC-based TENs. Thus, in this study, we attempted to construct a TEN composed of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and acellular nerve graft (ANG) utilizing an RCCS. Compared to TENs prepared in a static 3D approach, MTT and cell count results displayed an increased number of ADSCs for TENs in an RCCS. The similarity in cell cycle states and high rates of apoptosis in the static 3D culture demonstrated that the higher proliferation in the RCCS was not due to microgravity regulation but a result of preferential mass/nutrient transport. Quantitative PCR and ELISA indicated that the RCCS promoted the expression of ADSC neural differentiation-associated genes compared to the static 3D culture. Furthermore, this difference was eliminated by adding the Notch1 signaling pathway inhibitor DAPT to the 3D static culture. TEM, axon immunostaining, and retrograde labeling analysis after sciatic nerve transplantation indicated that the TENs prepared in the RCCS exhibited more regenerative characteristics for repairing peripheral nerves than those prepared in a static 3D approach. Therefore, these findings suggest that the RCCS can modulate the construction, morphology, and function of engineered nerves as a promising alternative for nerve regeneration.