Schwann cells are the glial cells of the peripheral nervous system. When transplanted into the injured central or peripheral nervous systems they promote repair. Traditionally Schwann cells have been isolated from the sciatic nerve, creating nerve-SC. An alternative Schwann cell source is from the differentiation of skin-derived precursors (SKPs), stem cells found in the skin, to Schwann cells (SKP-SC). SKP-SC have shown enhanced regenerative ability compared to nerve-SC. This study compares nerve-SC with SKP-SC at the functional and gene expression level to determine their degree of similarity and find their sources of variance. The functional ability of both Schwann cell types appeared similar. Their gene expression, as assessed by microarray, was similar but not identical. Genes that differed between nerve-SC and SKP-SC may represent differences important to regeneration. The similarity of SKP-SC to nerve-SC supports the use of SKP-SC for repair, and reasons for enhanced regeneration by SKP-SC are suggested.

Schwann cells are the glial cells of the peripheral nervous system. When transplanted into the injured central or peripheral nervous systems they promote repair. Traditionally Schwann cells have been isolated from the sciatic nerve, creating nerve-SC. An alternative Schwann cell source is from the differentiation of skin-derived precursors (SKPs), stem cells found in the skin, to Schwann cells (SKP-SC). SKP-SC have shown enhanced regenerative ability compared to nerve-SC. This study compares nerve-SC with SKP-SC at the functional and gene expression level to determine their degree of similarity and find their sources of variance. The functional ability of both Schwann cell types appeared similar. Their gene expression, as assessed by microarray, was similar but not identical. Genes that differed between nerve-SC and SKP-SC may represent differences important to regeneration. The similarity of SKP-SC to nerve-SC supports the use of SKP-SC for repair, and reasons for enhanced regeneration by SKP-SC are suggested.