SCHWANN-CELL TRANSPLANTATION AND MYELIN REPAIR OF THE CNS

Studies with experimental models of dysmyelination and demyelination h ave shown that rodent Schwann cells including a Schwann cell line, tra nsplanted in the central nervous system compete with host oligodendroc ytes to remyelinate denuded central axons of the spinel cord. The myel in Produced by transplanted SC around these central nervous system axo ns is structurally normal end restores, secure nerve conduction. In th e presence of a favorable substrate, transplanted Schwann cells migrat e over considerable distances (several mm) and ore recruited by a demy elinated lesion which they will partially repair. Thus Schwann cells, which con also support oxonol growth, may be instrumental in central n ervous system repair In addition, the possibility of obtaining large q uantities of human end non-human primate Schwann cells, makes it possi ble to consider autologous Schwann cell transplantation as a potential therapy for demyelinating or traumatic diseases. The various differen ces which may exist between rodents and humans, however, require furth er investigation of this possibility in a non-human primate model of d emyelination. These experiments should Provide not only insights on th e potential of autologous transplantation in primates but also a bette r understanding of the process of central remyelination.