A 3D in vitro model reveals differences in the astrocyte response elicited by potential stem cell therapies for CNS injury.

East, Emma; Johns, Noémie; Georgiou, Melanie; Golding, Jon P.; Loughlin, A. Jane; Kingham, Paul J. and Phillips, James B. (2013). A 3D in vitro model reveals differences in the astrocyte response elicited by potential stem cell therapies for CNS injury. Regenerative Medicine, 8(6) pp. 739–746.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2217/RME.13.61

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to develop a 3D culture model to test the extent to which transplanted stem cells modulate astrocyte reactivity, where exacerbated glial cell activation could be detrimental to CNS repair success.
Materials & methods: The reactivity of rat astrocytes to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and differentiated adipose-derived stem cells was assessed after 5 days. Schwann cells were used as a positive control.
Results: NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose-derived stem cells did not increase astrocyte reactivity. Highly reactive responses to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells were equivalent.
Conclusion: This approach can screen therapeutic cells prior to in vivo testing, allowing cells likely to trigger a substantial astrocyte response to be identified at an early stage. NCSCs and differentiated Schwann cell-like adipose-derived stem cells may be useful in treating CNS damage without increasing astrogliosis.

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