OBJECTIVE
To isolate and culture olfactory ensheathing cells from different origins, compare their different biological characteristics, and evaluate their therapeutic effect on spinal cord injury mouse models.
METHODS
The olfactory ensheathing cells from olfactory mucosa or olfactory bulb were isolated and cultured by differential adhesion method. The expressions of S100 and P75 proteins were examined by immunofluorescence staining; their growth curves were drawn by MTT colorimetric assay; the secretion of neurotrophic factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) was measured by ELISA; the gene expressions of BDNF, NGF, NT-3, neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), and microtubule-associated protein (MAP-2) were quantified by real-time PCR; the therapeutic effect on spinal cord injury mouse models was evaluated by Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale, which had been carried out daily for 8 weeks after the olfactory ensheathing cells of the two different origins were respectively grafted to the mouse models.
RESULTS
The two types of olfactory ensheathing cells showed bipolar or tripolar shape; both of them were S100 and P75 protein positive; both of them expressing the gene of BDNF, NGF, NT-3, and NT-4; the olfactory bulb-derived cells did not express MAP-2, but it highly expressed GAP-43 gene; the olfactory mucosa-derived cells displayed a low expression of MAP-2 and GAP-43; the growth speed of olfactory bulb-derived cells was faster than that of the olfactory mucosa-derived cells. Both of them could secrete BDNF, NGF, and NT-3, but the neurotrophic factor levels secreted in the olfactory mucosa-derived cells were higher. The daily neurological BBB scoring showed that the therapeutic effect of olfactory mucosa-derived cells on spinal cord injury mouse models was better than that of the olfactory bulb-derived cells.
CONCLUSION
There exist biological differences between the olfactory mucosa-derived cells and the olfactory bulb-derived cells. The olfactory mucosa-derived cells showed the better therapeutic effect on spinal cord injury mouse models.