Effect of modulating macrophage phenotype on peripheral nerve repair.

ABSTRACT: Peripheral nerve repair across long gaps remains clinically challenging despite progress made with autograft transplantation. While scaffolds that present trophic factors and extracellular matrix molecules have been designed, matching the performance of autograft-induced repair has been challenging. In this study, we explored the effect of cytokine mediated 'biasing' of macrophage phenotypes on Schwann cell (SC) migration and axonal regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Macrophage phenotype was successfully modulated by local delivery of either Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) or Interleukin-4 (IL-4) within polymeric nerve guidance channels, polarizing them toward pro-inflammatory (M1) or pro-healing (M2a and M2c) phenotypes, respectively. The initial polarization of macrophages to M2a and M2c phenot

SUBMITTER: Mokarram N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3483037 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature