Effects mediated by M2 muscarinic receptors activation in Schwann-like cells induced from adipose mesenchymal stem cells: implication in nerve regeneration.

The peripheral nervous system has an intrinsic regeneration capability; nevertheless, the nerve regeneration is often not satisfactory. Schwann Cells (SCs) play a central role in the nerve regeneration improvement. The clinical use of autologous SCs is limited. The new frontier of the regenerative medicine is focused on stem cells. The adipose tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells (ASC). It has demonstrated that ASC can be differentiated in vitro in Schwann-like. Rat SC-like express neuroglial markers and receptors for different neurotrasmitters that can modulate several physiological processes. Acetylcholine (ACh) controls Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation via M2 muscarinic receptors. Schwann-like express all muscarinic receptor subtypes including M2 subtype. In dASC M2 activation causes a decreased cell proliferation, the inhibition of cell migration and modulates expression of neurotrophic factors and P0 protein. Co-cultures of sensory neurons/dASCs will be used to study the in vitro myelination in presence of cholinergic agonists. The data obtained may contribute to identify new therapeutic strategies for peripheral nerve regeneration.