Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Whether human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into corresponding target cells after transplantation into different types of tissues?
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of differentiation from human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells into vascular endothelial cells in vitro induced by vascular endothelial cell growth factor.
METHODS: Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, and then characterized by flow cytometry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Differentiation into endothelial-like cells was induced by cultivation of confluent cells in the presence of 2% fetal calf serum and 50 μg/L vascular endothelial growth factor. We characterized these cells by immunofluorescence staining for endothelial-specific markers KDR and the von Will brand factor.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Isolated human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells were positive for the markers CD105, CD29 and CD44 and negative for typical hematopoietic and endothelial markers CD34, CD45, CD106 and HLA-DR. The morphology of induced cells was obviously changed. Immunofluorescence staining analysis of the confluent cells in situ showed positive for endothelial-specific markers like KDR and the von Will brand factor. The human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells have the capability to differentiate into vascular endothelial cells in vitro.