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Human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the umbilical cord
Author(s) -
Qiao Chun,
Xu Wenrong,
Zhu Wei,
Hu Jiabo,
Qian Hui,
Yin Qing,
Jiang Runqiu,
Yan Yongmin,
Mao Fei,
Yang Huan,
Wang Xingzhong,
Chen Yongchang
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1016/j.cellbi.2007.08.002
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , biology , cord lining , cd34 , cd44 , microbiology and biotechnology , cd90 , population , stem cell , amniotic stem cells , immunology , adult stem cell , cell , endothelial stem cell , in vitro , medicine , genetics , environmental health
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known as a population of multi‐potential cells able to proliferate and differentiate into multiple mesodermal tissues including bone, cartilage, muscle, ligament, tendon, fat and stroma. In this study human MSCs were successfully isolated from the umbilical cords. The research characteristics of these cells, e.g., morphologic appearance, surface antigens, growth curve, cytogenetic features, cell cycle, differentiation potential and gene expression were investigated. After 2 weeks of incubation, fibroblast‐like cells appeared to be dominant. During the second passage the cells presented a homogeneous population of spindle fibroblast‐like cells. After more than 4 months (approximately 26 passages), the cells continued to retain their characteristics. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that CD29, CD44, CD95, CD105 and HLA‐I were expressed on the cell surface, but there was no expression of hematopoietic lineage markers, such as CD34, CD38, CD71 and HLA‐DR. Chromosomal analysis showed the cells kept a normal karyotype. The cell cycle at the third passage showed the percentage of G 0 /G 1 , G 2 /M and S phase were 88.86%, 5.69% and 5.45%, respectively. The assays in vitro demonstrated the cells exhibited multi‐potential differentiation into osteogenic and adipogenic cells. Both BMI‐1 and nucleostemin genes, expressed in adult MSCs from bone marrow, were also expressed in umbilical cord MSCs. Here we show that umbilical cords may be a novel alternative source of human MSCs for experimental and clinical applications.