Comparative study of stemness characteristics of mesenchymal cells from bone marrow of children and adults.
OBJECTIVE
Age-related changes that could affect the biologic features of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC), such as a decrease in proliferation and osteoblast differentiation capacity and an increase of senescence markers and apoptosis, have been reported recently. The aim of this study was the evaluation of age-related characteristics and the correlation of age with the functional properties of MSC.


METHODS
The doubling time (DT), colony-forming unit–fibroblast (CFU-F) colonies and surface antigen expression of MSC isolated from bone marrow (BM) of children (C-MSC) were compared with those from adults (A-MSC). The expression of Oct-4 and Nanog transcripts and the relative telomere length were evaluated in both groups.


RESULTS
DT values were lower in C-MSC compared with A-MSC, and a higher CFU-F count was observed in children. However, the expression of Oct-4 and Nanog did not differ between C-MSC and A-MSC and was not correlated with the proliferative capacity. The telomere length was significantly higher in C-MSC compared with A-MSC.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that children's BM-derived MSC could be a more advantageous source of these cells for tissue engineering and cell therapy.
Choumerianou
Despoina M
DM
Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Martimianaki
Georgia
G
Stiakaki
Eftichia
E
Kalmanti
Lida
L
Kalmanti
Maria
M
Dimitriou
Helen
H
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C486780:NANOG protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3