A pilot study of the effect of 3D-Schwann-like cells derived from human adipose-derived stem cells on surgery-induced neurogenic bladder

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is often associated with trauma and can cause various symptoms that decrease the quality of a patient’s life. However, PNI treatment is an unmet medical need. Nerve regeneration is a focus of PNI treatment and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have recently garnered significant attention because of their multipotency and ease of production, and because they can differentiate into Schwann-like cells (SLCs) in vitro. We previously reported the production of three-dimensional (3D) SLCs derived from ADSCs and their potential for PNI treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 3D SLCs on PNI in vitro and in vivo. First, the effect of 3D SLCs in an in vitro nerve injury model was investigated. The nerve injury model resulted in axon shortening; however, axon length was enhanced by co-culture with 3D SLCs. Next, we established bilateral pelvic nerve cut model rats and confirmed the development of neurogenic bladder. Transplantation of 3D SLCs at the nerve transection site resulted in functional and histological improvement of neurogenic bladder. Our findings indicate that 3D SLCs have therapeutic potential for PNI, especially neurogenic bladder caused by surgical trauma.