Keratin Biomaterials Activate Schwann Cells via Integrin-Mediated Signaling and Promote Regeneration of Large Peripheral Nerve Defects in a Rabbit Model

    April 2009 in “ The FASEB Journal ”
    Paulina Sierpinski, Peter J. Apel, Bernard Tawfik, Tom L. Smith, L. Andrew Koman, Anthony Atala, Mark Van Dyke
    TLDR Keratin biomaterials from human hair help nerve regeneration by activating Schwann cells.
    The study demonstrated that keratin biomaterials, derived from human hair, activated Schwann cells through integrin-mediated signaling and promoted the regeneration of large peripheral nerve defects in a rabbit model. The researchers found that keratins could be effectively separated based on structural criteria, influencing Schwann cell receptor-mediated signaling. Specifically, cells on keratin substrates showed a significant upregulation in integrin αV and an increase in the pMAPK to MAPK ratio. In a rabbit model, keratin gels composed of alpha and gamma keratins significantly improved nerve regeneration, with treated nerves showing better conduction delay and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) compared to controls.
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