Characterization of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from full-term umbilical cord blood.
BACKGROUND
Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are of interest for their potential to repair bone and cartilage, and also their immunosuppressive properties. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is reported to contain MSC, and therefore may be a useful source of these cells for clinical applications.


METHODS
We evaluated protocols for isolating MSC from UCB and characterized the surface phenotype, differentiation potential and immunoregulatory properties of the cells obtained.


RESULTS
Ten of 25 UCB units processed yielded MSC-like colonies, with depletion of lineage+ cells providing a higher efficiency. Only two of the cultures could be expanded satisfactorily; the remainder failed to proliferate. One culture generated transformed lines that were grossly aneuploid, had up-regulated TERT transcripts and had lost CD90 expression and the capacity to differentiate. The two propagated UCB-MSC lines were similar to those from bone marrow but were not identical to each other, with differences seen in expression of surface markers and cytoskeletal proteins. Both underwent osteogenesis, but at different rates and to different degrees, while neither generated adipocytes. When added as a third party to a mixed lymphocyte culture, both suppressed proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
MSC-like cells can be isolated from UCB, but at low efficiencies, and they exhibit a variety of morphologies, growth rates and differentiation potentials and can transform in culture.
Manca
M F
MF
National Health Service Blood and Transplant, Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Research Department, Colindale Centre, London, UK.
Zwart
I
I
Beo
J
J
Palasingham
R
R
Jen
L-S
LS
Navarrete
R
R
Girdlestone
J
J
Navarrete
C V
CV
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007621:Karyotyping; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014746:Vimentin; C051931:myasthenia gravis anti-skeletal muscle antibody