Artikel
Olfactory ensheathing cells - Perspectives for nerve cell regeneration
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Veröffentlicht: | 23. April 2004 |
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Gliederung
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Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are a special type of glia occurring at the borderline between central and peripheral nervous system. Its biological properties and restorative effects on long corticospinal fibre tracts after spinal cord injury will be reviewed. OECs of rat origin have been used in rat models of spinal cord injury. The biological properties of rat OECs have been studied with immunohistochemistry in particular. OECs of human provenience are particularly interesting in the context of clinical application; these cells have been studied using immunohistochemistry, but also with patch clamp techniques. First results from transplantation of human OECs into rat spinal cord injury models are available.
OECs as well as hOECs share particular immunohistochemical features allowing morphological differentiation as well as cell sorting in culture. Human OECs have electrophysiological membrane properties similar to those of Schwann cells. Transplantation of OECs in rat models of spinal cord injury yield a morphological as well as functional restoration of long spinal fibre tracts as has been extensively documented in the past 10 years. Transplantation of human OECs into rat models of spinal cord injury have been performed with promising results in terms of enhancement of regeneration.
In conclusion, autologous transplantation of human OECs in patiens suffering from spinal cord injury may become a perspective of future therapy.