Schwann Cell Precursors from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Myelin Repair

• Main Authors: Han-Seop Kim, Jungwoon Lee, Da Yong Lee, Young-Dae Kim, Jae Yun Kim, Hyung Jin Lim, Sungmin Lim, Yee Sook Cho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-06-01
• Series: Stem Cell Reports
• Subjects: Schwann cell precursor; Schwann cell; hPSCs; myelination; axon regeneration
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213671117301650

Schwann cells play a crucial role in successful nerve repair and regeneration by supporting both axonal growth and myelination. However, the sources of human Schwann cells are limited both for studies of Schwann cell development and biology and for the development of treatments for Schwann cell-associated diseases. Here, we provide a rapid and scalable method to produce self-renewing Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), using combined sequential treatment with inhibitors of the TGF-β and GSK-3 signaling pathways, and with neuregulin-1 for 18 days under chemically defined conditions. Within 1 week, hPSC-derived SCPs could be differentiated into immature Schwann cells that were functionally confirmed by their secretion of neurotrophic factors and their myelination capacity in vitro and in vivo. We propose that hPSC-derived SCPs are a promising, unlimited source of functional Schwann cells for treating demyelination disorders and injuries to the peripheral nervous system.