Acceleration of Schwann cells proliferation in vitro using FK506

Purpose: To explore the role and mechanism of FK506 in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration. Methods: The purified Schwann cells from rabbits were divided into three group: 10 μg/L FK506 and the control group. Following 10 days in vitro, the cells from three groups were counted with phase contrast microscope every day to draw proliferation curve respectively. Flow cytometries were carried out in each group after 24 and 72 h respectively. Results: The Schwann cells grew well and a lot of balloons in the shruken fibroblasts cytoplasm were discovered in FK506 groups. The doubling time of control group was 8 days, the 10 and 100 μg/L FK506 group were 6.2 days respectively. The flow cytometry of the three groups showed that Schwann cells in S phase of the two FK506 groups were significanly higher than the control group(P < 0.01). Conclusions: FK506 could promote Schwann cell proliferation and restain the growth of fibroblast in vitro. The double role of immunosuppressive agent FK506 may have broad application prospect in treatment of nerve regeneration.