Induced pluripotent stem cell–derived mesenchymal stem cells enhance acellular nerve allografts to promote peripheral nerve regeneration by facilitating angiogenesis

The study explores the use of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) combined with acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) to improve peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat model with sciatic nerve injury. The iMSC + ANA group demonstrated significant improvements in nerve regeneration, motor recovery, and vascularization compared to the ANA group alone, with results comparable to traditional autografts. iMSCs were found to enhance angiogenesis and nerve repair by secreting factors like VEGF, NGF, and BDNF. These findings suggest that iMSCs can significantly boost the regenerative capacity of nerve allografts, offering a promising alternative for treating peripheral nerve injuries, though further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and optimize the therapy.