Olfactory ensheathing cells represent an optimal substrate for hippocampal neurons: an in vitro study

Abstract

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are cells that display Schwann cell or astrocyte-like properties. They are a source of growth factors and adhesion molecules which play a very important role as neuronal support enhancing cellular survival. Over the past 10 years, OECs have emerged as a leading reparative candidate, when transplanted into the injured spinal cord, having shown significant promise in the regeneration of spinal cord lesions. In this study we assessed the efficacy of OECs on the survival and neurite outgrowth of hippocampal neurons in vitro. Co-cultures of OECs and hippocampal of postnatal rats were successfully established and cells were immunocytochemically characterized. Some hippocampal cultures were added with growth factors, as bFGF, NGF and GDNF. Furthermore, conditioned medium from OECs cultures was used to feed some hippocampal neurons coverslips. Our results show that in co-cultures of hippocampal neurons and OECs the number of neurons and their neurite outgrowth were significantly increased in comparison with controls. Moreover, we showed that NGF and GDNF promoted a more positive effect in both neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth than bFGF. OEC-conditioned media stimulated both the neuronal survival and dense neurite outgrowth. These data indicate that OECs, as a source of growth factors, can promote the survival and the neurite outgrowth of hippocampal neurons in vitro and that bFGF, NGF and GDNF support them differently. Therefore, as OECs and their secreted growth factors appear to exert a neuroprotective effect for functional restoration and for neural plasticity in neurodegenerative disorders, they might be considered an approach for functional recovery.

Characterization of Glial Cell Models andIn VitroManipulation of the Neuregulin1/ErbB System

“…Concentration and exposure time of the cultures to the GDNF were previously established [24]. In the presence of serum, the majority of OEC and NOBEC exhibited both star and spindle shapes which are their in vitro typical morphological features (Figure 1).…”

Olfactory Ensheathing Cell-Conditioned Medium Reverts Aβ25–35-Induced Oxidative Damage in SH-SY5Y Cells by Modulating the Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway

“…The precise mechanisms accounting for the 118 observed recovery are not fully understood but may include 119 neuroprotection, reduction of the glial scar, promotion of 120 axonal regeneration, and remyelination (Roet and Ver-121 haagen 2014;Reginensi et al 2015 Pastrana et al 2007Pastrana et al , 2006Garcia-Escudero et al 2011;127 Moreno-Flores et al 2003a, b). 128 OECs produce growth factors, nerve growth factor 129 (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial 130 cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and ciliary neu-131 rotrophic factor (CNTF), cell adhesion molecules, and 132 extracellular matrix proteins that are beneficial for axonal 133 regeneration (Woodhall et al 2001;Pellitteri et al 2009;134 Pastrana et al 2006). Olfactory ensheathing cell-condi-135 tioned medium (OECCM) reverts SH-SY5Y damage 136 induced by 6 hydroxydopamine (6OHDA) (Shukla et al 137 2014) and astrocyte damage induced by H 2 O 2 (Jinbo et al 138 2013;Liu et al 2013).…”

The mitochondrial protective mechanism of olfactory ensheathing cells conditioned medium protects against H2O2-induced injury in astrocytes

“…Recent researches also demonstrate other promising abilities of OECs. The conditioned medium derived from OECs cultures has a remarkable effect not only on the neuronal survival, but also on neurite outgrowth, increasing their number and enhancing their length [28].…”