Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34214785›Full record

ArticleBiomaterials2021

Electrical stimulation of human neural stem cells via conductive polymer nerve guides enhances peripheral nerve recovery.

Shang Song, Kelly W McConnell, Danielle Amores, Alexa Levinson, Hannes Vogel, Marco Quarta, Thomas A Rando, Paul M George

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biomaterials, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed
6.1field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

43 citing papers in PubMed, 88 citations in OpenAlex.

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  18. Network Medicine as a Tool to Enhance Regenerative Rehabilitation Practice.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Shang SongDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Kelly W McConnellDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Danielle AmoresDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Alexa LevinsonDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Hannes VogelDepartment of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Marco QuartaDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration, Restoration and Repair, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Thomas A RandoDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Center for Tissue Regeneration, Restoration and Repair, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Paul M GeorgeDepartment of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Stroke Center and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: pgeorge1@stanford.edu.
Stanford University · USVeterans Health Administration · USStanford Medicine · US

Funding

Wnt signaling in muscle stem cell agingP01AG036695 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · PI Sean Curtis Bendall · 2011 to 2026
$29.3M
Technology Development P2CHD086843 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI AMBROSIO, FABRISIA · 2015 to 2024
$10.5M
Optimizing Stem Cell-Enhanced Stroke Recovery through a Bioengineered Electrically Conductive Polymer ScaffoldK08NS089976 · NINDS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI GEORGE, PAUL · 2015 to 2019
$940k
Enhanced Stem Cell Therapy with Rehabilitation Strategies for Peripheral Nerve RegenerationF32HD098808 · NICHD · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI SONG, SHANG · 2019 to 2022
$196k
REGULATION OF PROTON SECRETION IN THE EPIDIDYMISF32HD008684 · NICHD · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI PASTOR-SOLER, NURIA M · 2000 to 2002
$139k
Muscle Stem Cell Therapy for Volumetric Muscle LossI01RX001222 · VA · VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS · PI HUANG, NGAN F. · 2014 to 2023
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NICHD NIH HHS F32 HD008684NICHD NIH HHS F32 HD098808NICHD NIH HHS P2C HD086843NINDS NIH HHS K08 NS089976RRD VA I01 RX001222
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Severe peripheral nerve injuries often result in permanent loss of function of the affected limb. Current treatments are limited by their efficacy in supporting nerve regeneration and behavioral recovery. Here we demonstrate that electrical stimulation through conductive nerve guides (CNGs) enhances the efficacy of human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) in treating a sciatic nerve transection in rats. Electrical stimulation strengthened the therapeutic potential of NPCs by upregulating gene expression of neurotrophic factors which are critical in augmenting synaptic remodeling, nerve regeneration, and myelination. Electrically-stimulated hNPC-containing CNGs are significantly more effective in improving sensory and motor functions starting at 1-2 weeks after treatment than either treatment alone. Electrophysiology and muscle assessment demonstrated successful re-innervation of the affected target muscles in this group. Furthermore, histological analysis highlighted an increased number of regenerated nerve fibers with thicker myelination in electrically-stimulated hNPC-containing CNGs. The elevated expression of tyrosine kinase receptors (Trk) receptors, known to bind to neurotrophic factors, indicated the long-lasting effect from electrical stimulation on nerve regeneration and distal nerve re-innervation. These data suggest that electrically-enhanced stem cell-based therapy provides a regenerative rehabilitative approach to promote peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery.

Indexed as

Neural Stem CellsPeripheral Nerve InjuriesAnimalsAxonsElectric StimulationHumansNerve RegenerationPolymersRatsRecovery of FunctionSciatic NervePolymersConductive polymerElectrical stimulationFunctional recoveryNerve repairStem cells

Identifiers

PMID34214785
PMCPMC8325644
OpenAlexW3174648309

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.