AcceGen

The therapeutic benefits of  mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)  transplantation have been reported to be primarily attributed to their secreted factors, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs). The potential for employing the EVs from MSCs as an alternative acellular approach to cell therapy is attracting an increasing number of researches in immunomodulation and regenerative medicine.  What are extracellular vesciles? Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released into extracellular microenvironment by all cell types. They are delimited by a lipid-bilayer membrane and enclose cytoplasmic components from the originating cells. EVs are generally categorized based on their biogenesis and size. Exosomes, the best characterized EV subtypes, with a size range of 50-150 nm in diameter can form first as intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) in multivesicular compartments (generally of endocytic nature) and be secreted upon fusion of these compartments with the plasma membrane (PM). Other EVs such as microvesicles

  What are Schwann cells? Schwann Cells  (SCs)  are  axon  sheath cells that naturally exist in the  peripheral nervous system  (PNS) of all vertebrate species [1]. Schwann cells were mainly found in the spinal cord, although they were also present in the forebrain, brain stem, and cerebellum [2].   Formation of mature Schwann cells from ventrally migrating  neural crest cells  occurs through several intermediate cell populations during embryonic development, including the Schwann cell precursors found in peripheral nerves between embryonic day 12-13 and immature Schwann cells which were found between day13-15[3]. As shown in Figure 1, a schematic diagram of the main cell types involved in the formation of mature Schwann cells[4].     Figure 1 The Schwann cell lineage [4]   The Biological Characteristics of Schwann Cells Schwann cells (SCs) are mainly responsible for the regeneration and repair of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) [5]. A key feature of Schwann cell biology is that th

  What is Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)? Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) , also known as Human Mononuclear Cells from Peripheral Blood (HMNC-PB), originate from  Hematopoietic Stem Cells  (HSCs), which reside in the bone marrow.   Through the process of hematopoiesis, HSCs generate all types of blood cells of the immune system, which are typically divided into two branches: myeloid and lymphoid. Myeloid cells include  monocytes ,  erythrocytes ,  macrophages ,  neutrophils ,  basophils ,  eosinophils , and megakaryocytes to platelets. Lymphoid cells include T cells, B cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells, and innate lymphoid cells. Among those cells, there are single-nucleus cells, multiple-nuclei cells, and non-nucleated cells.   PBMC is a group of above-mentioned blood cells that only possess a single and round nucleus instead of one single type of cells. Thus, PBMC could give selective immune responses in different situations depending on the reactive cells. Thos