Decellularized extracellular matrix scaffold seeded with adipose-derived stem cells promotes neurorestoration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulation

• Published in: Biomedical materials (Bristol) Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 15007 - 15019
• Main Authors: Su, Xiaochen, Teng, Menghao, Zhang, Yingang, Ji, Wenchen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IOP Publishing 01.01.2024
• Subjects: adipose-derived stem cell; Animals; Decellularized Extracellular Matrix; decellularized extracellular matrix scaffold; differentiation; neuroregeneration; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recovery of Function; Spinal Cord Injuries - therapy; spinal cord injury; Stem Cells; Wnt Signaling Pathway; spinal cord injury; differentiation; decellularized extracellular matrix scaffold; neuroregeneration; adipose-derived stem cell
• ISSN: 1748-6041; 1748-605X
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-605X/ad0fa1

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes tissue destruction and neuronal apoptosis, which impede neural function recovery. Therefore, promoting neuronal regeneration and neural pathway reconstruction is crucial. In this study, a novel and facile decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffold seeded with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) (dECM scaffolds/ADSCs) was reported. The dECM scaffold maintained the original three-dimensional network structure of spinal cord tissue and contained various small pores. studies demonstrated that dECM scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility, facilitated efficient adhesion and proliferation of ADSCs, and promoted the secretion of neurotrophin-3 and neuronal differentiation in the microenvironment after SCI. studies further showed that dECM scaffolds/ADSCs could alleviate inflammatory and apoptotic reactions, providing a favorable microenvironment for promoting endogenous nerve regeneration rather than glial scars formation, ultimately achieving recovery of hind limb function in rats. Notably, ICG-001 effectively reversed the therapeutic effect of dECM scaffolds/ADSCs, proving that dECM scaffolds/ADSCs promoted functional recovery after SCI by regulating the Wnt/ -catenin signaling pathway. Overall, dECM scaffolds/ADSCs can simulate the physiological characteristics of the spinal cord and exert neurorestorative potential, providing a new therapeutic strategy for SCI.