Effective in vitro differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into Schwann-like cells with folic acid supplementation

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) after pelvic surgery is a common issue with a significant impact on patients. Autologous nerve grafting is the gold standard treatment for PNI, but this technique cannot be applied to fine nerve fibers in the pelvis. Schwann-like cell (SLC) differentiation is a novel therapeutic strategy for this clinical condition. However, the efficiency of SLC differentiation remains unsatisfactory. We modified an SLC differentiation protocol using adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and folic acid. Morphology, gene expression and secretion of neurotrophic factors were examined to assess the differentiation quality and phenotypic characteristics. Our new modified protocol effectively induced a Schwann cell (SC) phenotype in ADSCs as assessed by morphology and expression of SC markers [S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), P < 0.01 ; p75 neurotrophic receptor (p75NTR), P < 0.05]. SLCs produced by the new protocol displayed a repair phenotype with decreased expression of ERBB2 and early growth response protein 2 (EGR2) / KROX20 (P < 0.01). Furthermore, our new protocol enhanced both mRNA expression and secretion of nerve growth factors by SLCs (P < 0.01). This protocol enhanced the SC characteristics and functions of ADSC-derived SLCs. This promising protocol requires further research and may contribute to SC-based nerve regeneration.