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Purpose: While many studies have been conducted on peripheral nerve regeneration, few have focused on strengthening the nerve autografts. This study hypothesized that adding autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) to a nerve autograft will improve nerve regeneration. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of nerve autograft with and without SVF. Methods: An adipose tissue sample was excised from the right inguinal region of female Wistar rats, and SVF was separated by centrifugation. The left sciatic nerve was resected at a length of 15 mm and the defect was bridged by a resected nerve autograft. We added SVF with collagen gel around the nerve autograft in the SVF group and added saline in the control group. At 12 weeks after surgery, the wet muscle weight, distal latency, and amplitude of the compound muscle action potential of the tibialis anterior were evaluated by the ratio of left and right sides. Sciatic functional index (SFI) was also evaluated. Results: The wet muscle weight was significantly better in the SVF group than in the control group. The results of distal latency, amplitude, and SFI were not significantly different between the two groups; however, these results tended to be better in the SVF group than in the control group. Conclusion: SVF added to artificial nerve grafts has been reported to promote axonal regeneration through secretion of angiogenic, neurotrophic, and anti-apoptotic factors. This study indicates that SVF may also be effective for nerve autografts and improve the clinical result of nerve autograft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Many reports have indicated that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are effective for nerve regeneration. We investigated nerve regeneration by combining a polyglycolic acid collagen (PGA-c) tube, which is approved for clinical use, and Schwann cell-like differentiated ADSCs (dADSCs).Methods: Fifteen-millimeter-long gaps in the sciatic nerve of rats were bridged in each group using tubes (group I), with tubes injected with dADSCs (group II), or by resected nerve (group III).Results: Axonal outgrowth was greater in group II than in group I. Tibialis anterior muscle weight revealed recovery only in group III. Latency in nerve conduction studies was equivalent in group II and III, but action potential was lower in group II. Transplanted dADSCs maintained Schwann cell marker expression. ATF3 expression level in the dorsal root ganglia was equivalent in groups II and III.Discussion: dADSCs maintained their differentiated state in the tubes and are believed to have contributed to nerve regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irradiation by light emitting diode (LED) promotes fibroblast proliferation and wound healing. However, its mechanism is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to clarify the mechanism of fibroblast proliferation by LED irradiation. Cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts from normal mice were irradiated by LED with a center wavelength of 627 nm. LED irradiation was performed with an energy density of 4 J/cm(2), at subculture and 24 h later. The expression of several growth factors and their receptors was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR): platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A, PDGF-B, and PDGF-C, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), PDGF-alpha receptor, and TGF-beta receptor. Then, the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway was examined by Western blotting with and without the PDGF receptor inhibitor. LED irradiation induced cell growth of NIH3T3 fibroblasts. The expression of PDGF-C had significantly increased in the irradiated group (P < 0.01). Although strong activation of the ERK pathway was observed in the irradiated group, its activation was completely suppressed by the PDGF receptor inhibitor. We concluded that LED irradiation promotes fibroblast proliferation by increasing autocrine production of PDGF-C and activating the ERK pathway through phosphorylation of the PDGF receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]