Dental pulp-derived stem cells can counterbalance peripheral nerve injury-induced oxidative stress and supraspinal neuro-inflammation in rat brain

Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 25;8(1):15795. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34151-x.

Abstract

Previously, we reported the successful regeneration of injured peripheral nerves using human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) or differentiated neuronal cells from DPSCs (DF-DPSCs) in a rat model. Here, we attempted to evaluate oxidative stress and supraspinal neuro-inflammation in rat brain after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). We divided our experimental animals into three SNI groups based on time. The expression of a microglial (Iba1) marker and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was lower in DPSCs and higher in DF-DPSCs. In contrast, the expression of an astroglial (GFAP) marker was higher in DPSCs and lower in DF-DPSCs at 2 weeks. However, the expression of ROS, Iba1 and GFAP gradually decreased at 8 and 12 weeks in the SNI DPSCs and DF-DPSCs groups compared to the SNI control. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4 and TGF-β) expression was lower at 2 weeks, while it gradually increased at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery in the SNI DPSCs and DF-DPSCs groups. Similarly, SNI DPSCs had a high expression of pAMPK, SIRT1 and NFkB at the onset of SNI. However, 12 weeks after surgery, pAMPK and SIRT1 expression levels were higher and NFkB was down-regulated in both DPSCs and DF-DPSCs compared to the control group. Finally, we concluded that DPSCs responded early and more efficiently than DF-DPSCs to counterbalance peripheral nerve injury (PNI)-induced oxidative stress and supraspinal neuro-inflammation in rat brain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenylate Kinase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / pathology
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Dental Pulp / cytology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Microglia / pathology
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / complications
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / pathology
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / therapy*
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sciatic Nerve / injuries
  • Sciatic Nerve / pathology
  • Sirtuin 1 / metabolism
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Inflammation Mediators
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Adenylate Kinase
  • Sirtuin 1