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In future, adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) might be used to treat neurological disorders. In this study, the neurotrophic and angiogenic properties of human ASC were evaluated, and their effects in a peripheral nerve injury model were determined. In vitro growth factor stimulation of the cells resulted in increased secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and angiopoietin-1 proteins. Conditioned medium from stimulated cells increased neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. Similarly, stimulated cells showed an enhanced ability to induce capillary-like tube formation in an in vitro angiogenesis assay. ASC were seeded into a fibrin conduit that was used to bridge a 10 mm rat nerve gap. After 2 weeks, the animals treated with control or stimulated ASC showed an enhanced axon regeneration distance. Stimulated cells evoked more total axon growth. Analysis of regeneration and apoptosis-related gene expression showed that both ASC and stimulated ASC enhanced GAP-43 and activating transcription factor 3 (ATF-3) expression in the spinal cord and reduced c-jun expression in the DRG. Caspase-3 expression in the DRG was reduced by stimulated ASC. Both ASC and stimulated ASC also increased the vascularity of the fibrin nerve conduits. Thus, ASC produce functional neurotrophic and angiogenic factors, creating a more desirable microenvironment for nerve regeneration.

Spinal cord injury triggers a cascade of degenerative changes leading to cell death and cavitation. Severed axons fail to regenerate across the scar tissue and are only capable of limited sprouting. In this study we investigated the effects of adult human adipose derived stem cells (ASC) on axonal regeneration following transplantation into the injured rat cervical spinal cord. ASC did not induce activation of astrocytes in culture and supported neurite outgrowth from adult rat sensory DRG neurons. After transplantation into the lateral funiculus 1mm rostral and caudal to the cervical C3-C4 hemisection, ASC continued to express BDNF, VEGF and FGF-2 for 3 weeks but only in animals treated with cyclosporine A. Transplanted ASC stimulated extensive ingrowth of 5HT-positive raphaespinal axons into the trauma zone with some terminal arborisations reaching the caudal spinal cord. In addition, ASC induced sprouting of raphaespinal terminals in C2 contralateral ventral horn and C6 ventral horn on both sides. Transplanted cells also changed the structure of the lesion scar with numerous astrocytic processes extended into the middle of the trauma zone in a chain-like pattern and in close association with regenerating axons. The density of the astrocytic network was also significantly decreased. Although the transplanted cells had no effect on the density of capillaries around the lesion site, the activity of OX42-positive microglial cells was markedly reduced. However, ASC did not support recovery of forelimb function. The results suggest that transplanted ASC can modify the structure of the glial scar and stimulate axonal sprouting.