TY - JOUR
T1 - The properties of human Schwann cells
T2 - Lessons from in vitro culture and transplantation studies
AU - Monje, Paula V.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is dedicated to Dr Patrick Wood for the inspiring discussions on the unique properties of hSCs which started with the most basic question, ?Are hSCs SCs??. Pat's insights were key to many experiments and underlie many concepts discussed in this review. A special recognition to the passion of Dr Mary Bunge for her seminal contributions to the SC field and years of shared work. Former Miami Project colleagues are acknowledged for their sharing of expertise. A special credit given to Linda White and Gagani Athauda for technical insights, and Drs James Guest, Allan Levi, Cristina Fernandez-Valle, and Naomi Kleitman for conceptual input. The author is especially grateful to Dr Xiao-Ming Xu for fruitful discussions on SC transplantation. Patti Raley, Baylen Ravenscraft, and Dr Tamara Weiss contributed to critical review and editing of the manuscript. Illustrations were designed by Christopher Brown. This work was supported by the Indiana Traumatic Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund from the Indiana State Department of Health, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (grant #339576), the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, and the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.
PY - 2020/4/1
Y1 - 2020/4/1
N2 - Human Schwann cells (hSCs) can be isolated directly from peripheral nerve and cultured using methods similar to those used for SCs from other species. Yet, important interspecies differences are revealed when the primary or expanded hSCs are compared to their nonhuman counterparts. This review addresses the special properties of nerve-derived hSCs that have resulted to date from both in vitro studies and in vivo research on cell transplantation in animal models and human subjects. A consensus has yet to emerge about the essential attributes of cultured normal hSCs. Thus, an emphasis is placed on the importance of validating hSC cultures by means of purity, identity, and biological activity to reliably use them as in vitro models of the SC phenotype and cell therapy products for injury repair. Combining traditional immunological methods, high-resolution omics approaches, and assorted cell-based assays is so far the best approach to unequivocally identify hSC populations obtained by direct isolation or derivation from stem cells. Special considerations are required to understand and manage the variability and heterogeneity proper of donor batches, as well as to evaluate risk factors. This is particularly important if the intended use of the hSCs is implantation in the human body, diagnosis of disease, or drug testing aimed at targeting any aspect of SC function in human patients. To conclude, in view of their unique properties, new concepts and methods are needed to better understand the biology of hSCs and exploit their full potential in basic science and regenerative medicine.
AB - Human Schwann cells (hSCs) can be isolated directly from peripheral nerve and cultured using methods similar to those used for SCs from other species. Yet, important interspecies differences are revealed when the primary or expanded hSCs are compared to their nonhuman counterparts. This review addresses the special properties of nerve-derived hSCs that have resulted to date from both in vitro studies and in vivo research on cell transplantation in animal models and human subjects. A consensus has yet to emerge about the essential attributes of cultured normal hSCs. Thus, an emphasis is placed on the importance of validating hSC cultures by means of purity, identity, and biological activity to reliably use them as in vitro models of the SC phenotype and cell therapy products for injury repair. Combining traditional immunological methods, high-resolution omics approaches, and assorted cell-based assays is so far the best approach to unequivocally identify hSC populations obtained by direct isolation or derivation from stem cells. Special considerations are required to understand and manage the variability and heterogeneity proper of donor batches, as well as to evaluate risk factors. This is particularly important if the intended use of the hSCs is implantation in the human body, diagnosis of disease, or drug testing aimed at targeting any aspect of SC function in human patients. To conclude, in view of their unique properties, new concepts and methods are needed to better understand the biology of hSCs and exploit their full potential in basic science and regenerative medicine.
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U2 - 10.1002/glia.23793
DO - 10.1002/glia.23793
M3 - Article
C2 - 32027424
AN - SCOPUS:85079054379
VL - 68
SP - 797
EP - 810
JO - GLIA
JF - GLIA
SN - 0894-1491
IS - 4
ER -