Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Feb 26, 2025; 17(2): 102702
Published online Feb 26, 2025. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i2.102702
Perspectives on Schwann-like cells derived from bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells: Advancing peripheral nerve injury therapies
Lucas Vinícius de Oliveira Ferreira, Rogério Martins Amorim
Lucas Vinícius de Oliveira Ferreira, Rogério Martins Amorim, Department of Veterinary Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-681, São Paulo, Brazil
Author contributions: Ferreira LVO and Amorim RM made equal contributions to this study. Ferreira LVO and Amorim RM prepared and wrote the manuscript; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Lucas Vinícius de Oliveira Ferreira, Department of Veterinary Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Prof. Dr. Walter Maurício Corrêa Street, s/n, Botucatu 18618-681, São Paulo, Brazil. lv.ferreira@unesp.br
Received: October 28, 2024
Revised: December 18, 2024
Accepted: January 18, 2025
Published online: February 26, 2025
Processing time: 121 Days and 10.6 Hours
Abstract

Peripheral nerve injuries are clinical conditions that often result in functional deficits, compromising patient quality of life. Given the relevance of these injuries, new treatment strategies are constantly being investigated. Although mesenchymal stem cells already demonstrate therapeutic potential due to their paracrine action, the transdifferentiation of these cells into Schwann-like cells (SLCs) represents a significant advancement in nerve injury therapy. Recent studies indicate that SLCs can mimic the functions of Schwann cells, with promising results in animal models. However, challenges remain, such as the diversity of transdifferentiation protocols and the scalability of these therapies for clinical applications. A recent study by Zou et al provided a comprehensive overview of the role of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. Therefore, we would like to discuss and explore the use of SLCs derived from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in more detail as a promising alternative in the field of nerve regeneration.

Keywords: Cell therapy; Nerve repair; Peripheral nervous system; Transdifferentiation; Transplantation

Core Tip: Schwann-like cells (SLCs) derived from bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for peripheral nerve regeneration. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to optimize transdifferentiation and transplantation methodologies, as well as to explore the efficacy of SLCs in different injury models. The development of strategies that integrate SLCs could enhance neuroregeneration, promoting cell survival and therapeutic success.