Open AccessHuman Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells Can Integrate and Differentiate into Epithelial Lung Lineages
Author(s) -
Carraro Gianni,
Perin Laura,
Sedrakyan Sargis,
Giuliani Stefano,
Tiozzo Caterina,
Lee Jooeun,
Turcatel Gianluca,
De Langhe Stijn P.,
Driscoll Barbara,
Bellusci Saverio,
Minoo Parviz,
Atala Anthony,
De Filippo Roger Edward,
Warburton David
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1634/stemcells.2008-0090
Subject(s) - biology , stem cell , amniotic fluid , amniotic epithelial cells , lung , microbiology and biotechnology , amniotic stem cells , immunology , adult stem cell , embryonic stem cell , genetics , gene , fetus , medicine , pregnancy
Abstract A new source of stem cells has recently been isolated from amniotic fluid; these amniotic fluid stem cells have significant potential for regenerative medicine. These cells are multipotent, showing the ability to differentiate into cell types from each embryonic germ layer. We investigated the ability of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSC) to integrate into murine lung and to differentiate into pulmonary lineages after injury. Using microinjection into cultured mouse embryonic lungs, hAFSC can integrate into the epithelium and express the early human differentiation marker thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1). In adult nude mice, following hyperoxia injury, tail vein‐injected hAFSC localized in the distal lung and expressed both TTF1 and the type II pneumocyte marker surfactant protein C. Specific damage of Clara cells through naphthalene injury produced integration and differentiation of hAFSC at the bronchioalveolar and bronchial positions with expression of the specific Clara cell 10‐kDa protein. These results illustrate the plasticity of hAFSC to respond in different ways to different types of lung damage by expressing specific alveolar versus bronchiolar epithelial cell lineage markers, depending on the type of injury to recipient lung. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.