Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (27): 4984-4987.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.27.010

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Biological characteristics, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood

Zhang Ji-hua1, Sun Kang2, Wang Yan3, Tian Shao-qi2, Xia Chang-suo2, Zhang Cai-long2, Yu Teng-bo2   

  1. 1 Physical Examination Center, 2 Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao  266003, Shandong Province, China; 3 Qingdao Woman and Children’s Hospital, Qingdao  266000, Shandong Province, China
  • Online:2010-07-02 Published:2010-07-02
  • Contact: Sun Kang, Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China Sunkang_qy@yahoo.com.cn
  • About author:Zhang Ji-hua, Physical Examination Center, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China qingyiren66@163. com
  • Supported by:

    the Key Project in Science and Technology of Shandong Province, No. 2008GG30002037*

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies addressing umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) are key point and hot focus in the research of stem cells. However, few reports have addressed UCB-MSCs, and there are controversial in many aspects.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the biological characteristics, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential of UCB-MSCs.
METHODS: MSCs were harvested and cultured from UCB at various gestational ages. The morphology and ultramicrostructure of MSCs and their growth characteristics in vitro were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope and transmission electron microscope. The surface antigen phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry. The osteogenic and adipogenic media were used to induce differentiation of UCB-MSCs into osteoblasts and adipocytes. The osteogenic potential was determined by alizarin red staining. Adipogenic potential was detected by oil-red O staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Under the inverted phase contrast microscope, UCB-MSCs were adherent with a fibroblast like morphology and whirlpool like growth alinement. The ultramicrostructure in transmission electron microscope showed that UCB-MSCs had a big cell nucleus, less cellular organelles and big karyoplasmic ratio. All of the growth curves of primary and subculturing UCB-MSCs presented “S” type. The third and fifth generation of MSCs showed the greatest reproductive activity. And the count of CFU-F was higher in smaller gestational age than the older. Flow cytometry showed that these cells were positive for CD29, CD44 and CD90 expression, but they failed to express hematopoictic cell surface markers, such as CD34 and CD45. When the MSCs were induced to osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation for 3 weeks, the formation of a mineral extracellular matrix and neutral lipid vacuoles detected by alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining and oil-red O staining respectively. Results have indicated that UCB-MSCs have similar morphological character, biological characteristics and cell surface markers with MSCs derived from bone marrow, both of which have great capability of proliferation and regeneration. UCB-MSCs can be induced to differentiation to osteoblasts and lipoblasts in a suitable condition in vitro.

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