Evidence of a temporal window for bone marrow mononuclear cell migration to the injured sciatic nerve: effects on nerve morphology, function and mechanical hyperalgesia.

CLARA P. SETTON; CANDELARIA LEIGUARDA; MAILIN CASADEI; ALICIA CUETO; GONZALO PIÑERO; PABLO R. BRUMOVSKY; PAULA A, SOTO; VANINA USACH

CABA

Congreso; The role of Glia in Health and Disease of the Nervous System; 2017

When systemically transplanted upon lesion, bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) are able to migrate exclusively to the injured sciatic nerve, in a model of reversible Wallerian degeneration promoted by sciatic nerve crush. Once at the Ipsilateral nerve, some BMMC coexpress markers of Schwann cell and nerve fiber markers, promoting morphological regeneration, slightly improving the amplitude of compound muscle action potential and fully preventing the neuropathic pain associated with the injury. In this context, the aim of the present work was to determine a temporal window during which BMMC are recruited into the injured nerve and whether BMMC migration exerts a beneficial effect on nerve regeneration. Adult Wistar rats with sciatic nerve crush were systemically transplanted with BMMC at different survival times post lesion. Seven days after transplantation, animals were sacrificed and morphological, functional and behavioral studies were performed. Results show the highest rate of BMMC migration when cells were transplanted during the peak of demyelination, 7 days after injury. However, the beneficial effects exerted by these cells failed to replicate those of upon-lesion transplantation, in terms of nerve morphology and function. Ongoing studies will help to determine whether this temporal window for BMMC transplantation leads to faster regeneration than spontaneous recovery. Positive results may open doors for new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of peripheral demyelination processes.