In vitro induced differentiation of mouse muscle-derived stem cells into Schwann-like cells

Background: There is evidence that muscle-derived stem cells can promote the regeneration of muscle fiber, strength the function of regenerative muscle tissue, exhibit the ability to differentiate into epineurial cells and possess the phenotype of Schwann cells. Objective: To analyze the induced differentiation of neonate mouse muscle-derived stem cells into Schwann-like cells by Schwann cell conditioned culture medium and investigate the feasibility of use of neonate mouse muscle-derived stem cells as the seed cells for nerve tissue engineering. Methods: Muscle-derived stem cells were harvested from C57BL/6 neonate mouse appendicular skeletal muscle and purified and cultured by modified Preplate technique. These cells were identified by immunocytochemistry with Desmin and Sca-1 antibodies and then induced to differentiate into Schwann-like cells using Schwann cell conditioned culture medium. Schwann cell specific antibodies S100β and P75^NTR were used for immunocytochemical identification. Results and Conclusion: Muscle-derived stem cells isolated from mouse skeletal muscle could be stably proliferated and passaged, and were positive for Desmin and Sca-1 staining. After induced differentiation, some muscle-derived stem cells were positive for S100β and P75^NTR staining. These findings suggest that muscle-derived stem cells can be harvested from neonate mouse skeletal muscle through the use of modified Preplate method. In the Schwann cell conditioned culture medium, neonate mouse skeletal muscle-derived stem cells can differentiate into Schwann cell-like cells and therefore can become an ideal Schwann cell substitute in nerve tissue engineering.